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“I sincerely hope we extend these protections, as no one deserves to face vilification,” he shared with SBS News on Wednesday.
Expressing his concerns, Burns, who is of Jewish heritage, remarked, “I’m worried that singling out the Jewish community might inadvertently lead to adverse effects.”
Josh Burns emphasized the importance of taking decisive action to combat hate and antisemitism, stating that “absolutely everything” must be done to address these issues. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
He highlighted the necessity of bipartisan support, calling on “sensible individuals within the Liberal Party to step up and ensure the successful implementation of these laws.”
Prime Minsiter Anthony Albanese on Tuesday said the government “intended” to examine other areas of hate speech if the current bill becomes law.
Spender to move hate speech law amendment
“There is no principled reason for allowing hate speech against any group. To their great credit, Jewish community leaders support expanding protection to include these groups – it is the government and opposition who are resisting.”
Wentworth MP Allegra Spender has been campaigning to strengthen hate crime laws for over 18 months, with a previous amendment to expand protections failing to pass. Source: AAP / BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAPIMAGE
However, if her amendment fails to pass, she clarified she would pass the legislation in its current form as “Jewish community safety is paramount now”.
“Serious vilification laws must apply equally. The government should be stopping all hate before it turns violent, not creating tiers of protection,” she said in a statement.
