Parliament Set to Tackle Hate Preacher Legislation: A Crucial Step Towards Safer Communities

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Parliament is expected to return at some point in the next two weeks, allowing the government to pass laws cracking down on hate preachers who vilify people of other faiths.

The legislation is being drawn up after December’s mass shooting on Bondi Beach, which saw two gunmen target Jewish revellers celebrating Hanukkah, leaving 15 people dead.

Officials are still drafting hate speech laws, which were announced shortly after the massacre.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to initiating a national gun buyback program, alongside granting the home affairs minister enhanced authority to revoke or deny visas for individuals who incite hatred or discord.

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The inaugural session is anticipated to occur as early as January 12, though it is more likely to take place during the week starting January 19.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the nation’s deadliest mass shooting in almost three decades, where a father and son allegedly murdered 15 individuals and injured numerous others at Bondi Beach, located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Albanese is also staring down growing pressure to announce a Commonwealth royal commission into the terror attack, after independent MPs wrote to him demanding stronger action.

Labor has so far rejected calls from the Jewish community, business leaders, sporting stars and politicians for the wide-ranging inquiry to examine the 14 December shooting and antisemitic sentiment in the community.

Police are still investigating the nation’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years, during which a father and son allegedly killed 15 people and wounded scores more at Bondi Beach in Sydney’s east.

Federal Labor frontbencher Tim Ayres warned a royal commission could risk delaying the government’s response to the massacre.

He argued that other inquiries were already underway, including a review of Australia’s intelligence agencies by former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief Dennis Richardson and an NSW royal commission into the tragedy.

“This is the time to act with urgency, to be focused on unity here in Australia,” Ayres told the ABC on Monday.

“This is not the time to be doing things that are politically expedient or politically easy.”

Independent federal MPs Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, Sophie Scamps and Zali Steggall are the latest to write to Albanese demanding a federal royal commission.

“Only a federal royal commission will have the power to comprehensively and independently investigate the circumstances leading to, and authorities’ response to, the attacks, and examine actions and coordination across all levels of government,” they said in the joint letter.

The four MPs also called for changes to hate speech laws, to crack down on anyone attempting to incite hatred, along with more funding to protect the Jewish community.

“Australia has been the most successful multicultural country in the world,” they said.

“It can be again — but we must ensure that all our communities can practice their culture, traditions and beliefs in safety, and free from persecution.”

Other independents — including Sydney MPs Allegra Spender and Nicolette Boele, ACT senator David Pocock, Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie and South Australian Rebekha Sharkie — have previously expressed support for a national royal commission.

The latest letter also follows similar calls from sporting legends and business leaders, including James Packer.

On Sunday, Olympians Dawn Fraser, Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett and Nova Peris joined around 60 athletes to demand a federal royal commission.

The NSW government has already promised a state-based royal commission, but critics argue the investigation won’t adequately probe any potential federal failures in the lead-up to the Bondi attack.

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Parliament Set to Tackle Hate Preacher Legislation: A Crucial Step Towards Safer Communities

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