Committee backs hate group ban

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has endorsed the government’s listing of Hizb ut-Tahrir as a prohibited hate group, concluding the organisation promotes hatred, normalises violence and poses a threat to Australia’s social cohesion.

Committee chair Senator Raff Ciccone tabled the report last Thursday, declaring “the days of organisations like Hizb ut-Tahrir operating freely in this country are over”.

“The evidence is unambiguous. This organisation has repeatedly praised attacks that would constitute hate crimes if committed on Australian soil,” he told the Senate.

Hizb ut-Tahrir became the first organisation listed under the prohibited hate group framework introduced in January 2026 following the Bondi massacre.

Senator Ciccone told The AJN the committee went through “a pretty rigorous scrutiny process” including scrutinising classified advice from security agencies.