Australia to Tighten Hate Speech, Visa Laws After Bondi Terror Attack

Four days after the Bondi Beach terror mass shooting that killed 15 people, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced tougher security and education measures aimed at tackling anti-Semitism and hate speech.

The package includes proposed new criminal offenses, new visa cancellation powers, more online regulation, education reform, and the activation of the national disaster recovery funding—the first time it has been used for a terrorist attack.

The package’s measures to tackle radicalization include a new aggravated hate speech offense aimed at leaders who promote violence, tougher penalties for speech that incites harm, and sentencing changes to treat “hate” as an aggravating factor in online threats and harassment.

The government also plans to introduce a new legislative regime to list and restrict organizations whose leaders promote violent hatred, which will likely affect the Al Madina Dawah Centre in western Sydney, along with a narrow federal offense covering serious racial vilification and advocacy of racial supremacy.

The announcement came after days of pressure from the federal opposition, former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (himself a Jew), and a meeting of the National Security Committee.

Albanese said Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke would be tasked with drafting the new laws.

As part of the crackdown, Burke will receive stronger powers to cancel or refuse visas for people who are believed likely to spread hate or division in Australia.

Government Adopts Anti-Semitism Envoy’s Report

Albanese also finally committed to adopting all 13 recommendations from Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism Jillian Segal. He said some were already in the works, including the recommendation to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism.

“We have already legislated for hate speech, hate crimes, hate symbols, outlawing doxing,” Albanese said.

Police Investigating Hate Preachers

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett also confirmed ongoing investigations into hate preachers and said she was working with international allies to map the offenders’ movements. The suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting, a father-son duo, had traveled to the southern Philippines before the attack.

“I can also reveal the [Australian Federal Police have] ongoing investigations into people who have been described as hate preachers,” Barrett said. “These individuals who cause fear are on my radar.”

Alleged Shooter Links to Radical Preacher

The announcement came as investigators confirmed that the younger accused shooter, Naveed Akram, 24, was a follower of controversial Sydney-based jihadist preacher Wissam Haddad, whose influence has been linked to multiple generations of Australian extremists.

Police say Akram worshipped at the Al Madina Dawah Centre and acted as a street preacher for Haddad’s Dawah Van organization, which lost its charity status in June after an Australian Broadcasting Corp. Four Corners investigation found that it was radicalizing young Australians while receiving government tax concessions.

Burke said some organizations were operating below the legal threshold for law enforcement, despite promoting division.

“There have been organizations which any Australian would look at and say their behavior, their philosophy, and what they are trying to do is about division, and has no place in Australia,” he said.

“And yet, for a generation, no government has been able to successfully take action against them because they have fallen just below the legal threshold.”

Authorities to Monitor Anti-Semitism in Schools and Online

The government has also announced a 12-month taskforce on anti-Semitism in schools and universities, to be led by philanthropist David Gonski.

Education Minister Jason Clare said education plays a central role in preventing anti-Semitism.

“Children aren’t born anti-Semitic or with hate in their hearts—this is something that’s taught,” he said.

Online anti-Semitic content will also be targeted, with eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, Segal, and the Department of Communications working to provide guidance and enforcement.

In a first for Australia, the federal government has also activated its disaster recovery funding arrangements in response to a terrorist attack.

Under the scheme, the Commonwealth and New South Wales will share the cost of recovery for victims and small businesses.