Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced the measures as a response to the deadly mass shooting incident during Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people.
The country has already been under immense pressure to tackle cases of antisemitism, with Albanese conceding that he could have done more to combat anti-Jewish sentiment in Australia following Hamas's October 7 attack in Israel.
“Look, of course more could have always been done. Governments aren’t perfect. I’m not perfect,” Albanese said.
What would the new measures be?
Albanese convened the national security committee on Thursday morning and said that the government supports Australia's special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, in this endeavour.
The prime minister’s decision to emphasise tighter gun control laws in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s shooting has drawn criticism, including from former Liberal prime minister John Howard, who argued the move was an attempt to deflect attention from an inadequate response to rising antisemitism.
Measures announced include a new aggravated hate speech offence targeting preachers and leaders who incite violence, tougher penalties for hate speech that promotes violence, and making hatred an aggravating factor in sentencing for online threats and harassment.
It would also include creating a list of organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech, promoting violence or racial hatred.
“There have been organisations which any Australian would look at and say, their behaviour, their philosophy and what they are trying to do is about division and has no place in Australia," The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said.
Shooter may face life in prison
Naveed Akram, the surviving attacker behind the deadly assault, could face life imprisonment if convicted, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in a statement.
Akram, who was critically injured during the attack on Sunday, has recently emerged from a coma and was formally charged on Monday with 59 offences. These include terrorism-related charges and 15 counts of murder. The charges were announced as hundreds of mourners assembled across Sydney to begin funeral services for the victims. The second gunman, Akram’s father Sajid, was shot dead during the attack.
Barrett said investigations into the mass killing remain ongoing and sought to reassure the Jewish community, stressing that authorities believe there is no continuing threat.
