NSW to ban hateful symbols and ‘globalise the intifada’ slogan

The NSW Government will introduce tough new laws banning hateful symbols including ISIS flags and the slogan “globalise the intifada”, with police given greater powers to remove face coverings during public assemblies.

Legislation will be introduced on Monday making it an offence to publicly display terrorist symbols such as ISIS flags without a reasonable excuse.

The offence will carry a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a $22,000 fine and up to $110,000 for organisations. A reasonable excuse includes for an academic purpose or for another purpose in the public interest.

Premier Chris Minns said the chant “globalise the intifada” was hate speech and encouraging of violence.

“Horrific recent events also show that the chant ‘globalise the intifada’ is hate speech and encouraging of violence in our community. This chant will be banned alongside other hateful statements used to vilify and intimidate our community,” Minns said.

“There is no place in New South Wales for slogans or symbols that incite hatred, glorify violence or intimidate communities. These laws send a clear message that hateful conduct will not be tolerated.”

Attorney-general Michael Daley will ask the Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety to conduct an investigation into other hateful statements and recommend which statements can be specifically included in the state’s hate speech laws to be introduced when parliament returns in the new year.

The legislation will also give police more powers to require someone suspected of committing an offence during a public assembly to remove their face covering.

Currently, removal can only be required to confirm someone’s identity if they are arrested and detained or suspected of committing an indictable offence.

The change will lower the threshold during public assemblies so anyone suspected of committing any offence, including lower-level offences, can be required to remove their face covering.

Daley said the government was determined to tackle hate in all its forms.

“There is no place for any kind of hateful symbols or speech in NSW,” Daley said.

“We must tackle this scourge in all its forms including inflammatory and divisive symbols and slogans which cause real fear to vulnerable communities. This Government is determined to do whatever is necessary to ensure community safety and cohesion after the horrific events at Bondi.”

The reforms follow changes announced this week to significantly tighten gun laws and temporarily restrict public assemblies following a terrorist attack.

Minns said the changes were about protecting the community and allowing NSW Police to focus on preventing harm.

“These changes, alongside tougher gun laws and temporary restrictions on public assemblies following a terrorist incident, are about protecting the community, and allowing NSW Police to focus on preventing harm,” he said.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip called the announcement ” a watershed moment in confronting the hate and incitement which has proliferated on our streets”.

” Globalising the Intifada means killing a Jew wherever you find one. It’s a call to violence and it leads to violence,” he said. ” For those who previously doubted this, we have all now seen what the intifada looks like in reality – violent murder at Bondi Beach. No Australian can reasonably claim to be ignorant anymore of the danger of this incitement and no one should tolerate it.”

Ossip reiterated that the right to protest “is a core Australian value and a fundamental tenet of a democratic society”.

“But it has never included the right to hide your face and shout slogans calling for violence against one’s fellow Australians or waving the flags of groups devoted to murder and destruction,” he said.

“We cannot allow our fundamental freedoms of speech and assembly to be perverted and weaponised against us. Public protest cannot become a licence to threaten or terrorise minority communities. The safety and security of Australians, as well as the wellbeing and stability of our society, depends on it.”

The announcement follows Sunday’s terror attack at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people during a Chanukah celebration.