A scathing collection of letters published by The Canberra Times has accused the federal Coalition of staggering hypocrisy for campaigning to weaken Australia's hate speech laws while simultaneously attacking the Albanese government for not doing enough to counter anti-Semitism.
Coalition's Long Campaign Against Hate Speech Protections
In a letter published on January 5, 2026, reader Keith Hill from New Acton argued that a significant part of Australia's ongoing problem with discrimination stems from prominent Coalition and media voices opposing Labor's 1995 amendments to the Whitlam-era 1975 Racial Discrimination Act.
Hill pointed to former Prime Minister Tony Abbott's unsuccessful attempt to change the 1995 amendments to raise the bar for prosecutions. He also highlighted the famous 2014 declaration by then Attorney-General George Brandis that "people do have the right to be a bigot."
The letter further noted that current Member for Goldstein, Tim Wilson, has campaigned to remove the words "offend" and "insult" from Section 18C of the Act. Additionally, Senator James Paterson declared after a 2017 Senate vote defeated proposed changes that the campaign against the wording "was not over."
"A sizeable number of opposition parliamentarians have fought long and hard to weaken our anti-discrimination and hate-speech laws," Hill wrote. "Those same members are now accusing Prime Minister Albanese and his government of not doing enough to counter hate speech and anti-Semitism. The hypocrisy knows no bounds."
Gaza Editorial Sparks Fury, ACT Debt Debate Rages
The letters section also featured a fiery response to a year-end editorial on Gaza. Dianne Lucas from Lyneham described the editorial as "vitriolic," taking issue with terms like "gaslighting" and "rabble-rousers." She defended pro-Palestinian protesters, comparing their efforts to the anti-apartheid movement, and questioned the value of a royal commission into anti-Semitism without a similar inquiry into violence against women.
Meanwhile, the debate over the ACT's finances continued. Peter Bradbury from Holt challenged earlier claims that the territory was structurally unsound from its inception. He argued that the ACT was in a net credit position with no net debt as recently as June 2012, proving its fiscal sustainability for nearly a quarter-century after self-government.
"The current debt spiral starts at that point," Bradbury asserted, pointing to 13 consecutive annual operating deficits totalling $7 billion. He concluded that the ACT government had simply chosen to spend more than it collects.
Community Weighs In on Bondi, Fireworks, and Leadership
Other correspondents tackled a range of issues. Felicity Chivas from Ainslie called for traditional fireworks to be replaced with cleaner drone and laser shows, citing Curtin University research on their harmful effects on wildlife and air quality.
The aftermath of the Bondi massacre prompted several letters. John Smith from Farrer argued comparisons to the Lindt Cafe siege were invalid, stating the Bondi attack was a "well-planned" act of anti-Semitic terrorism. He called for immediate action on the recommendations of the Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism.
Conversely, Maureen Blackmore from Kambah urged for unity and patience, supporting the federal government's inquiry led by Dennis Richardson due in April over a lengthy royal commission.
In the regular "To The Point" section, readers delivered sharp commentary. R. Webb from Griffith suggested Prime Minister Albanese opposed a royal commission because it might examine his government's response to rising anti-Semitism. Michael Calkovics from Lyons offered ironic thanks to China for imposing tariffs on Australian beef, hoping it would lower local supermarket prices.
The collection presents a snapshot of national concerns as 2026 begins, with political accountability, community safety, and fiscal responsibility dominating the discourse.
