Hate crackdown revealed as day of mourning announced

Source: AAP
People who join or support prescribed hate groups will face 15 years behind bars as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveils a day of mourning to commemorate victims of Bondiâs terror attack.
The federal government would have new powers to prescribe hate groups that currently fall below terrorist listing thresholds, with organisers, supporters and recruiters facing 15 years in prison while members face seven.
The beefed-up hate laws create offences for publicly promoting or inciting racial hatred as the government vows to crack down on hate preachers following an Islamic State-inspired father-son duo killing 15 people at a Bondi Hanukkah celebration on December 14.
There will also be a national day of mourning on January 22, with flags flown at half-mast, Albanese announced on Tuesday.
âThis will have a theme of light ⌠a gathering of unity and remembrance,â he said in Canberra.
People face five years behind bars if they promote or incite hatred against another person or group because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin, according to the legislation.
Aggravated offences include if a religious preacher is involved or if it targets children, as the government vows to tackle youth radicalisation.
Disseminating ideas of superiority over or hatred of another person or group because of their race, colour or national and ethnic origin is also an offence.
It would be an offence if âthe conduct would, in all the circumstances, cause a reasonable person who is the target, or a member of the target group, to be intimidated, to fear harassment or violence, or to fear for their safety,â the draft legislation states.
There are already concerns within the Coalition about provisions of the hate speech bill, including a passage that exempts âdirectly quoting from or otherwise referencing a religious text for the purpose of religious teaching or discussionâ.
The Coalition believes this may fail to tackle some radical Islamic preachers who would be able to fall back on that defence.
Albanese didnât explicitly address why religion wasnât included when asked about concerns from Muslim communities about Islamophobia not being adequately covered.
âWe regard this as a moment where we need to emphasise that the Australian way is to ⌠allow people to express their faith and to go about their everyday activity without fear of vilification or an escalation into violence at any time,â he said.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland added that âour focus is on combating antisemitism, and thatâs what this package of reforms seek to doâ.
Jewish people are considered an ethno-religious group, meaning theyâre protected under the race provision.
Grassroots group Muslim Votes Matter is creating a dedicated advocacy team to ensure the perspective of Muslim communities and the risks they face are represented to the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion.
The proposed omnibus legislation could also wedge the Coalition as it includes gun reforms.
The draft laws create a national buyback scheme, and tighten imports of classes of firearms including assisted repeating and straight pull firearms, as well as suppressors and certain types of ammunition.
Background checks will also be strengthened and ownership will be contingent on being an Australian citizen.
Nationals MPs have already expressed reservations about gun control after the Coalition was briefed on the legislation on Monday night.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said some of the firearm importation provisions related to particular classes of guns, âand not ones that recreational or agricultural shooters should be worried aboutâ.
âWe will, as a Coalition, work through the detail and make sure our position is a united one,â he said.
Albanese hasnât entertained the idea of splitting the bill, saying the laws addressed both the motivations of hate speech and the methods used in deadly attacks.
âThe terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds, but guns in their hands, and this bill will get rid of both of those issues,â he said.
-AAP
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