‘Words matter’: spy chief talks up ban on hate groups
The country’s spy chief says an attempt to ban extremist groups in the wake of the Bondi massacre would be good for Australia and warns there is a “permission” for politically motivated violence in society.
The bills, which will be debated in parliament when it meets early next week, will provide a framework for defining hate groups that fall below a certain threshold as terrorist organisations.
Organizers, supporters and recruiters of the listed groups face up to 15 years in prison, and their members face up to seven years in prison.
ASIO chief executive Mike Burgess told the parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday that the opportunity to ban groups inciting violence was welcome.
“I’ve been on the record since the beginning two years ago… talking about how important words are, because heated language can lead to intense tension that can lead to violence,” he said.
“We have definitely seen a shift and an increase in politically motivated violence or social violence being more permissible in our society.
“Unfortunately as a nation we have allowed behaviors to become normalized and when they become normalized they are accepted which means the more behaviors that are more permissible and that can happen.”
The proposal to strengthen hate speech laws comes in response to the Islamic State-inspired attack on Jewish Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach on December 14.
A father and son are accused of killing 15 people and wounding more than 40.
January 22 will be declared a national day of mourning and flags will be flown at half-mast.
Mr Burgess said the spy agency acknowledged the “deep pain and grief” of the families, friends and community of those killed and injured
“ASIO officers continue to work around the clock on this investigation,” he said.
“The victims’ families and all Australians deserve this.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the extreme Islamist organization Hizb ut Tahrir and the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network could be included in the scope of reforms.
The country’s largest neo-Nazi group will disband by midnight on Sunday to avoid jail time under new laws.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said the nation did not want people to escape justice by “tearing down a banner and reappearing under a different name”.
“The Albanian government must also clarify whether this dissolution actually makes it more difficult to prosecute those responsible for spreading hatred, intimidation and extremism,” he said.
“If extremist organizations have already found a way to get around these new laws, that is very worrying.”
The inquiry will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Wednesday, where views will be heard from Jewish groups and human rights advocates.
A report is due to be prepared by Friday before parliament meets next week to discuss the reforms.
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