Pressure on to expedite hate speech enforcement changes
Jewish leaders want investigations of hate speech and incitement to be prioritized as authorities vow to crack down on anti-Semitism.
Home Secretary Tony Burke has vowed to lower the threshold for hate speech to the absolute legal limit to tackle the problem of freedom of expression following the deadly Bondi terror attack.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the expanded legislation would make it easier to prosecute criminals.
The crackdown comes after Sunday’s atrocity erupted in Jewish community anger over the lack of investigations into hate preachers and the display of Nazi symbols.
The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council says enforcement should be prioritized and crackdown on extremism, racial denigration and harm to social cohesion.
“Police should be expected to scrupulously enforce existing and new legislation prohibiting hate speech and terrorist or Nazi symbols,” the statement 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.”
The council also wants the courts to impose full penalties.
Ms. Barrett said the four men were charged with anti-Semitism crimes by federal investigators specifically tasked with combating politically motivated violence and hate speech.
Increasing their numbers and lowering the legal threshold will mean faster police 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, examining how the Israel-Palestine conflict is taught.
“Schools that teach hate should lose their funding.
“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.
Prominent Jewish community member David Gonski chaired Friday’s first meeting as the task force conducts a 12-month education review to ensure the system adequately prevents and responds to anti-Semitism.
Data provided by the National Student Ombudsman reveals 231 complaints about discrimination, racism or inadequate support on Australian university campuses since February.
Of these, 71 relate to race or religion and 23 relate to experiences of anti-Semitism, and an official investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Australia/Israel and the Council on Jewish Affairs have joined calls for the government to recall federal parliament to urgently consider changes to hate speech legislation.
Liberal leader Angus Taylor says there’s no reason it can’t be done before Christmas.
“The government has no problem making resources available to solve these problems,” he told Sky News.
“We will sit in parliament and discuss the issues with the government. We are very happy to do this and to do it as quickly as possible.”
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated this will not happen as reforms, including extending hate speech laws, would have to be complex and watertight to withstand the challenges of the Supreme Court.
Mr Taylor is unclear whether the amended hate speech laws should target incitement or lower the threshold for defamation.
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