Hate speech laws scrutinised as coalition mulls support
The finer details of the hate speech overhaul will emerge as the laws drafted in the wake of the Bondi terror attack come under the spotlight.
Parliament’s powerful intelligence and security committee will review the legislation on Tuesday, examining the home affairs and attorney general departments, as well as the Australian Federal Police and ASIO.
The legislation will be introduced to parliament on Monday, which will also give MPs time to address a motion of condolence following the anti-Semitic attack on Bondi Beach that claimed the lives of 15 innocent people.
The package includes making it an offense to publicly encourage or incite racial hatred, as the government promises to crack down on hate preachers.
A person who promotes or promotes hatred against another person or group because of race, color or national or ethnic origin would face five years behind bars, under some of the legislation reviewed by AAP.
It is also a crime to spread a sense of superiority or hatred towards another person or group because of race, color or national or ethnic origin.
“Conduct would constitute an offense if, in all the circumstances, it would cause a reasonable person who is the target or a member of the target group to be intimidated, fear harassment or violence, or fear for their safety,” the draft legislation states.
There are already concerns within the coalition about provisions of the hate speech bill, including a passage that exempts “direct quoting or other reference to a religious text for the purpose of religious teaching or discussion.”
The concern within the coalition is that this defense may fail to combat some radical Islamist preachers who may back down.
The proposed omnibus bill could also put pressure on the coalition as it includes gun reforms.
Full details of the changes will be made public on Tuesday, but Nationals MPs had already expressed reservations about gun control after the coalition was briefed on the legislation on Monday evening.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said some firearms import provisions were followed in relation to certain classes of weapons, “and recreational or agricultural shooters are not the ones they need to worry about”.
“As a coalition we will work out the details and ensure our position is unified,” he said.
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