NSW premier announces new laws banning hate speech and symbols in wake of Bondi beach terror attack | New South Wales politics
NSW will ban the display of terrorist symbols such as the Islamic State and Hamas and ban hate speech, including the phrase “globalising the intifada”.
The state government on Saturday announced a proposed crackdown on hate speech and hate symbols following the Bondi terror attack that killed 15 people.
The government will also give police greater powers to ask anyone suspected of committing a crime to remove their masks during demonstrations.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Prime Minister Chris Minns welcomed calls for a royal commission into the Bondi attack.
“If we are not going to set up a royal commission into this matter, when will you exercise the powers of this extraordinary provision in our law?” he said.
He said the government would examine additional measures to further crack down on hateful slogans and that this would make a “huge difference” for the state.
“I will insist that ‘globalisation of the intifada’ be included in the list of hateful, violent rhetoric in New South Wales,” Minns said.
“This hymn will be banned along with other hateful comments and statements made in our society.”
Minns said the government has already received advice that the phrase “globalizing the intifada” violates the state’s existing hate speech laws.
“This law will leave this beyond doubt. So, if you are thinking of using this phrase before the bill becomes law, you are doing a very risky business,” he said.
NSW state parliament will meet on Monday and Tuesday to consider tougher gun and protest laws in the wake of the country’s worst terror attack.
More to come.
