Parliament recalled for national security laws on extremism

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Federal parliament will be recalled next Monday and Tuesday to deal with national security legislation cracking down on hate preachers and extremism in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

The new reforms could see hardline Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in the firing line for proscription after the Jewish community and others have called for years for the organisation to be banned.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that the first order of business when parliament sits again would be a condolence motion to remember those who lost their lives in the December 14 attack, with agreement reached with the opposition on the wording.

Parliament will then deal with the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, which Albanese said was “a comprehensive package of reforms” that creates serious offences for hate preachers and leaders seeking to radicalise children, increases penalties for hate crimes offences, and ensures offenders whose crimes were motivated by extremism have that factored into sentencing.

The bill also creates a new offence for inciting hatred in order to intimidate or harass, expands and strengthens the ban on prohibited symbols, and makes it easier for the home affairs minister to cancel or refuse a visa for people who want to spread hatred.

Crucially, the bill creates a new framework that will enable the home affairs minister to list organisations as “prohibited hate groups”. Once an organisation is listed, it will be a criminal offence to be a member, recruit for it, donate or receive funds or support that group in any way.

The bill will also set up a national gun buyback scheme. “The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds – and lethal weapons in their hands. These reforms deal with both,” Albanese said.

The bill will be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for inquiry, with submissions to be received over the coming week.

Attorney-general Michelle Rowland said the laws would be “the toughest hate laws Australia has ever seen”.

“They will specifically target those who seek to spread hatred and disrupt social cohesion in our community, and it will send a clear message that this conduct will not be tolerated,” Rowland said.

The bill introduces an aggravated hate speech offence for preachers and leaders who promote or threaten violence against protected groups, with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for a new racial vilification offence.

It will also make racial hatred an aggravating factor in sentencing in a number of Commonwealth crimes and create a regime for listing organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech or promote violence or racial hatred.

Home affairs minister Tony Burke said the legislation would deal with both the motivation and method of the Bondi attack.

“There have been organisations which have played a game for a long time in keeping themselves just below the legal threshold. They were called out last year by Mike Burgess, the director-general of ASIO, for the real harm they do to our national security,” Burke said.

“The two groups he called out specifically were the Nazis, the National Socialist Network, and Hizb ut-Tahrir. Two groups which through their spreading of hate, have a direct impact on increased risk on our national security environment, but have kept themselves just below the law. For while they have created a pathway for others to engage in violence, have been careful to not explicitly call for it themselves. They’ve kept themselves just below that threshold. This bill will lower that threshold.”

Burke said the bill would also increase powers to cancel visas based on racial bigotry alone.

“This draws a line in the sand and says racial bigotry of itself is a reason to be able to refuse a visa,” he said.

The legislation will also allow the use of the AusCheck system to create a two-hurdle process before someone is issued with a gun licence, allowing intelligence held by ASIO and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to be used to create an extra layer of caution.

Albanese said the government was open to constructive suggestions on the draft legislation.

“We spent a lot of time getting it right. There has been a lot of consultation already, not just with the Jewish community, but with other communities as well. We want to get it right. But if someone has a constructive suggestion, then it will be considered on its merits,” he said.

When asked about social cohesion in Australia, Albanese said it was under pressure globally.

“We see an increase of polarisation of views around the world. We see not just social media but indeed mainstream media sites, if you look at the headlines that are on stories, erring on the side of shouting rather than talking. Yelling rather than explaining. And that’s a pressure which is real on our society,” he said.

“I want an Australia that goes to our values, where everyone is respected. Where the Australian covenant is that when people come here, they leave any hatreds and prejudices in the customs hall and recognise the strength that is here in our diversity.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said the announcement was “a promising sign”.

“The country cannot risk another round of reforms that will fall short of providing the level of protection that it is claimed they provide. We will have more to say when the bill is released and we can assess its specific provisions,” Wertheim said.

The legislation will be introduced to the House of Representatives on Monday and debated on Tuesday before being transmitted to the Senate, with the government intending to pass it through both houses on Tuesday.

The Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14 killed 15 people during a Chanukah celebration.