Hate bills pass NSW parliament
'Our package of legislation is a strong response to recent antisemitism, but it will also protect people of all races'
Three new bills to ensure the community is protected from racial hatred, offensive Nazi symbols, and desecration and harassment at places of worship have passed the NSW parliament.
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Racial and Religious Hatred) Bill 2025, Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025, and Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Bill 2025 all passed the Parliament overnight on Thursday.
The package of legislation was developed by the NSW government in response to a series of what it called “unacceptable antisemitic attacks that caused community division and fear”.
“The Government has acted quickly in response to disgusting acts we have seen in our state,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
“Our package of legislation is a strong response to recent antisemitism, but it will also protect people of all races.”
Attorney General Michael Daley said, “When we drafted these laws, we were mindful of preserving protest rights and freedom of political expression while also ensuring adequate community protection.
“In today’s environment, this legislation sends a strong message that hatred will not be tolerated.”
It will soon be a crime to harass, intimidate or threaten a person accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship with such conduct punishable by a fine of $22,000 or two years’ imprisonment, or both.
It will also be a crime to intentionally and publicly incite hatred towards another person, or group of people, on the grounds of race – with an exception for directly referencing religious texts during religious teachings or discussions.
The incitement of racial hatred will attract a maximum penalty for an individual of two years’ imprisonment, fines of up to $11,000, or both, while corporations can face fines of $55,000.
The legislation also clarifies that graffiti is a “public act” for the purposes of the offences of threatening or inciting violence and displaying Nazi symbols, provides for tougher sentencing for displaying by public act a Nazi symbol on or near a synagogue, the Sydney Jewish Museum or a Jewish school; and aggravates sentences when a person’s conduct is partially or wholly driven by hate.
Member for Vaucluse Kellie Sloane said the NSW Liberal Party moved amendments to the Bills “in a bid to make them stronger”
“However our sensible reforms, including adding the display of terrorist symbols as a crime, and giving the community the ability to recover some of the costs of the weekly protests in the CBD, were opposed by Labor and the Greens,” she said.
“Nonetheless, there was a strong spirit of bipartisanship when it came to condemning antisemitism and a commitment by all to supporting Sydney’s Jewish community.
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