Anthony Albanese has Recalled Parliament Early to Deal with Sweeping Hate Speech and Gun Laws in the Wake of the Bondi Terror Attack
The prime minister announced in Canberra the government would introduce legislation that would designate hate crime a “serious” offence and set up a national gun buyback scheme.
“The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both and we need to deal with both,” Mr Albanese said.
The federal government has been consulting on proposed changes to strengthen hate speech laws, including creating a regime for listing so-called hate organisations.
The laws will expand the ban on prohibited symbols and make it easier for the home affairs minister to cancel a visa.
Anthony Albanese will recall parliament for Monday and Tuesday next week.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalls parliament to introduce hate speech and gun laws
Anthony Albanese has recalled parliament early to deal with sweeping hate speech and gun laws in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.
On Monday the prime minister announced that both houses of federal parliament would sit on January 19 and 20, two weeks before politicians were scheduled to return to Canberra, to push through an omnibus bill that sets up a national gun buyback scheme and strengthens anti-vilification laws.
“The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both and we need to deal with both,” Mr Albanese said in Parliament House.
The federal government has been consulting on proposed changes to strengthen hate speech laws, including creating a regime for listing so-called hate organisations.
It has also pledged to toughen the ban on prohibited symbols, make it easier for the home affairs minister to cancel the visas of people deemed to be planning to spread hatred, and establish a new offence of inciting racial hatred.
The new laws will establish a gun buyback scheme.
“We want to ensure that Australia remains a society where everyone has the right to be proud of who they are and we also want to make it clear that conduct which is hateful, dangerous, and divisive will also be illegal,” the prime minister said.
“Just as antisemitism and racism are an offence against our Australian values, they should be an offence against Australian law.”
Separately, the proposed legislation will also pave the way for a “two hurdle” process for gun licensing, which will involve the use of AusCheck to search for intelligence held by ASIO and ACIC related to applicants or their family members.
Finally, the bill will set up a national gun buyback scheme, which the Commonwealth has committed to fund 50-50 with the states and territories by July 1.
Asked if the federal government still intended to split the cost with states and territories, Mr Albanese said he would let states “speak for themselves”.
The prime minister will also move a condolence motion on Monday condemning the Bondi attack, the wording of which he said had been agreed to by the Coalition.
Coalition concerned hate speech, gun laws will be wrapped together
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said, once passed, the legislation will be the toughest hate speech laws “ever seen” in Australia.
“They will specifically target those who seek to spread hatred and disrupt social cohesion in our community. And it will send a clear message that this conduct will not be tolerated,” Ms Rowland said.
Sussan Ley says the Coalition is concerned gun and hate speech reforms will be wrapped into a single bill.
The Coalition has criticised the decision to wrap the gun law and hate speech changes into one bill, warning that bundling complex reforms together could lead to unexpected consequences.
“We will see the legislation later today and make a decision on how best to proceed,” shadow home affairs minister Jonno Duniam said on Monday.
“We’ve long said we don’t want this to be a take it or leave it proposition, where the government tables laws and we’re left with the option of either supporting it or rejecting it.”
Senator Duniam said the Coalition had not been consulted during the drafting process.
“If we can pass it on Tuesday, great. We’ve wanted these laws passed and action taken urgently,” he said.
“We will not stand in the way of getting things done, but we want to get it right.”
Mr Albanese last week announced a national royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the Bondi terror attack and a range of other issues.
The inquiry will be led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell.
The prime minister said the government had crafted the legislation so that it could withstand a legal challenge, which he said the Commonwealth would “vigorously defend”.
He said he hoped the legislation would be passed through the parliament “efficiently and quickly” with the support of the entire parliament.
The bill will be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for scrutiny.
Resources:
https://t.me/AussieCossack/45379
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-12/anthony-albanese-recalls-parliament-hate-speech-gun-laws/106220636
