Opposition expresses reservations about attorney-general power
The Queensland opposition has expressed reservations about supporting proposed hate speech laws and accused the Crisafulli government of playing politics in the wake of a national tragedy.
The omnibus bill, introduced in response to the terror attack on Bondi Beach, includes criminalizing phrases associated with the pro-Palestinian movement such as “river to sea” and “globalizing the intifada”.
The laws would also give the then-attorney general the power to ban any expression he deems appropriate and allow police to conduct warrantless searches of people suspected of committing crimes.
In a submission to the relevant parliamentary committee, the Labor opposition described the powers given to the attorney general as a “dangerously low bar”.
“Although it has been stated that this is the same process as banning symbols in Queensland, the meaning, representation or purpose of a symbol is often clearly established,” the opposition wrote.
They noted that other states are considering similar laws, but only through legislative changes, not regulations that would give a single person the right to choose.
“The attorney general could quietly issue a new regulation one day, and then it would be banned without any public consultation or active publication and notification from the government of the day,” they said.
Currently, only two phrases commonly heard at pro-Palestinian rallies are on the planned ban list.
“This section of the Bill is widely seen as a joke on the freedom of expression afforded to Queenslanders,” Labor said.
The party said it would support gun reform and called on the government to increase gun reform. mandatory mental health checks for gun permit holders and to align their laws with other states.
“We continue to have reservations about the effectiveness of these elements to prevent another Wieambilla or Bondi attack,” they said.
“But there are powerful new offenses relating to religious practices and places of worship that the Queensland Labor opposition unhesitatingly supports.”
Speaking in Cairns on Friday, Prime Minister David Crisafulli said the laws target antisemitism and will stop terrorists and criminals from accessing weapons.
“The legislation is very specific, the regulations are very specific, and that’s what we said we would do in response to anti-Semitism,” he said.
He said these two phrases call for “the elimination of a human race” and should be banned.
An opposition spokesman said the party chamber would decide on a position at a convention on Monday before the bill returns to parliament next week.
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