New bill a ‘step in the right direction’
Jewish leaders welcome new hate laws, while noting key antisemitism measures were removed.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has welcomed the passing of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 as a “step in the right direction”.
The legislation introduces aggravated offences for preachers and leaders promoting hate, enhanced deportation powers and proscribes a new category of hate groups including the neo-Nazi Nationalist Socialist Network and Hizb ut-Tahrir. The Senate passed the bill 38 to 22 late on Tuesday night with Liberal support.
Three Nationals crossed the floor to oppose the bill after an amendment put forward by Senator Bridget McKenzie to have it referred to a committee was defeated.
“This bill is another substantial step towards achieving effective laws against the deliberate promotion of hatred of groups or individuals based on their skin colour or national or ethnic origin,” said ECAJ president Daniel Aghion.
“Even though the creation of a criminal offence to that effect was deleted from the bill, a new legal regime has been established to enable the government to proscribe extremist hate groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir and neo-Nazi organisations.”
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