Jewish community leaders have welcomed new federal laws targeting hate groups but are calling for a future review of racial vilification legislation, which was dropped to secure opposition support. The hate law reform, part of Labor's response to the Bondi terror attack, passed the Senate late Tuesday with Liberal Party backing, though the Nationals voted against it.
The legislation establishes a framework to ban extremist groups, grants the home affairs minister additional visa cancellation powers, and introduces tougher penalties for religious leaders promoting violence. However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese abandoned a plan to outlaw racial vilification after the Coalition rejected it over freedom of speech concerns.
Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, described the new laws as a 'measurable improvement' but said the absence of a racial hatred offence was 'something that we will need to think about in the future.' He warned that failing to address vilification could lead to further tragedies.
Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, praised the bipartisan agreement on hate group listing but called the broader reform 'unfinished work.' He expressed hope that the upcoming royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion would provide an opportunity to revisit the issue.
Nationals leader David Littleproud defended his party's vote against the bill, citing concerns about unintended consequences for free speech. Despite the split, the legislation passed with Liberal support, though three shadow cabinet members voted against it, breaking convention.
