Jewish leaders demand tough hate speech law enforcement
Jewish leaders are calling for the investigation of hate speech and incitement to be prioritized as authorities vow to crack down on antisemitism.
Home Secretary Tony Burke has vowed to lower the threshold for hate speech to the absolute legal limit to avoid court challenge to free speech principles following the deadly anti-Semitic terror attack in Bondi.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett welcomed the push, saying the expanded legislation would make it easier to prosecute criminals.
This follows outrage from the Jewish community over the lack of prosecution for hate preachers and displays of Nazi symbols.
The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council said enforcement should be prioritized as it called for a crackdown on extremism, racial denigration and harm to social cohesion.
“Police should be expected to scrupulously enforce existing and new laws prohibiting hate speech and terrorist or Nazi symbols,” the council said in a statement. he said.
“State and federal governments should prioritize enforcement by ensuring police receive appropriate education, training and internal support to effectively enforce these laws when bringing charges.”
They also called on the courts to fully implement the penalties during the prosecution.
Ms Barrett said four people had been charged with anti-Semitic offenses by a national investigation team set up to tackle politically motivated violence and hate speech.
He said the announced increase in this team and the lower legal threshold meant police would take quicker action.
“It could be the difference between us knocking on the door to warn someone or having someone handcuffed,” he said.
The council said antisemitism education should be compulsory in schools and that there should be a review into how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is taught.
“Schools that teach hate should lose their funding,” he said.
“Anti-Semitism education should not be equated with Holocaust education, as anti-Semitism did not begin or end with the Holocaust.”
An anti-Semitism education working group was also convened, led by the author of a groundbreaking review of school finance.
David Gonski, a prominent member of the Jewish community, oversaw the first meeting on Friday; The task force is conducting a 12-month review of the education system to ensure it is adequately preventing and responding to anti-Semitism.
The council joined calls for the government to urgently recall the federal parliament so emergency legislation can be passed.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated this will not happen because reforms, including extending hate speech laws, would have to be complex and watertight to withstand the challenges of the Supreme Court.
