'Unfortunate tropes' are being used to justify proposed carve-outs of sweeping hate speech laws, a peak Jewish group says. Draft laws to be debated next week when parliament returns early would introduce hate speech and racial vilification offences, with a defence included for people quoting directly from a religious text. The bid to strengthen hate speech laws is in response to an Islamic State-inspired attack which killed 15 people at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14. While supporting gun reform, the party is pushing to expand hate speech protections to other minorities, including on the basis of sexuality and disability. He wants hate crime provisions expanded to protect individuals over other attributes, including sexual orientation, gender, age and disability.

Source: Daily Mail January 14, 2026 09:33 UTC