Labor faces grassroots push to reject Qld hate laws
Queensland Labor is seriously considering challenging the state government’s criminalization of “river to sea” and “globalising the intifada” in its hate speech laws, as a grassroots faction within the party launches a push to reject the legislation.
The opposition has yet to reach a formal agreement on Friday night, but several party MPs who spoke anonymously to this imprint to speak freely about internal processes expressed concerns about the proposed law’s impact on freedom of expression.
The party is keen to support a legal response to the anti-Semitic terror attack on Bondi Beach, but many sources in the party room say the inclusion of the two phrases is a political attempt by Crisafulli’s government to pressure his parliamentary rival.
They say the LNP is trying to trigger an internal Labor split if it supports the legislation by angering the party’s Left wing or risks being treated softly against antisemitism and public safety attacks.
Some sources also suggested that the hate speech component of the bill, which would be the toughest law in the country if passed, would distract from the government’s refusal to include mandatory mental health checks in its package of gun reforms.
The ongoing internal debate comes as the Queensland Labor Friends of Palestine branch called on Steven Miles’ opposition to take a stand against proposed hate speech laws that have been criticized by a prominent civil libertarian.
Attorney General Deb Frecklington, who was flagged after the December attack at a Jewish Hanukkah event in Sydney that killed 15 people, introduced the legislative package this week.
In addition to proposed gun law reforms, the omnibus bill would also include an expansion of banned hate symbols and increased penalties for criminal offenses related to places of worship.
But the bill would also go beyond other jurisdictions to ban pro-Palestinian protest slogans such as “from river to sea, Palestine will be free” and “globalize the intifada.”
This would work by ensuring that the ban applies to all statements, oral or written, as determined by the Attorney General of the day. Later legislation would extend warrantless police stop and search powers to anyone suspected of committing the crime.
Committee review of the bill began Wednesday and will close at 10 a.m. Tuesday; A public hearing will be held on Thursday and a report will be presented before parliament restarts on March 3.
“They’re trying to pressure us on this issue,” a senior Labor MP said on this thread, adding that the party was less likely to succumb to the infighting that emerged when the LNP’s youth justice bills passed parliament.
“People might see this as an obvious gulf on our part, so we’re not at each other’s throats like we were with the first ‘adult crime, adult time’ thing.
“If we start adding emoticons and different language, that would be a bit ridiculous, and I think they’ve overstated how willing society is to see more crackdowns on free speech.”
The phrase “from river to sea” is highly debated by supporters of the Palestinian cause, who argue that it is a call for peace. freedom from oppression, illegal occupation And Israel’s genocide claim.
Unveiling the planned legislation alongside Crisafulli on Sunday, the chairman of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies argued it amounted to “murdering Jews from river to sea”.
Jewish Council of Australia executive officer Doctor Max KaiserIn a submission to the NSW parliament’s consideration of a ban on phrases such as “globalising the intifada” opposed banning both slogans.
Labor Friends of Palestine described the proscriptive language used by peaceful protesters as a “direct attack on the fundamental rights of Queenslanders to free expression”.
“We condemn the disgraceful comments made by the Prime Minister and attorney general who attempted to falsely link those campaigning against genocide to the terrorist attack in Bondi,” they said.
“Thousands of Queenslanders, including Labor Party members and voters, have chanted ‘river to sea’ in peaceful protests since 2023.”
They noted that motions had been passed calling for Australia to impose comprehensive sanctions and impose an arms embargo on Israel. State Labor conference in Novemberand branches throughout the state.
The statement continued: “The Prime Minister is now threatening members of the Labor Party and anyone who defends the rights of the Palestinian people with two years in prison.”
“We call on the labor opposition and the labor movement to stand up to this serious attack on democratic rights, which will open the door to further repressive measures targeting the people of Queensland.”
The group said Queensland should instead support a national review of the Racial Discrimination Act to deliver a legislative instrument covering all aspects of racial discrimination and denigration.
“This is the way to protect all human rights of Australians equally and create true social cohesion in our multicultural society,” the group said.
The proposed slogan ban was also criticized by the Queensland Civil Liberties Council, with deputy leader Terry O’Gorman saying it “does not include” banning any public protest slogans.[ing] “Direct incitement to violence is an unjust attack and restriction on freedom of expression.”
That’s especially true when the phrases “have ambiguous meanings depending on the political viewpoint of the recipient,” O’Gorman said Monday.
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James Hall is News Director of the Brisbane Times. He is a former Queensland correspondent for The Australian Financial Review and has covered a range of headlines across the country, specializing in political and financial reporting.Connect with: X or email.
Matt Dennien is a reporter for the Brisbane Times covering state politics and public services. He previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
