Queensland moves to ban hate slogans

Jewish leaders have welcomed Queensland’s plans to introduce new laws into Parliament this week to counter antisemitism, which include banning the slogans used at pro-Palestinian marches ‘from the river to the sea’ and ‘globalise the intifada’. The controversial slogans are viewed by many in the Jewish community as a form of incitement and antisemitism. The new laws would impose a maximum two-year prison sentence for making, distributing, publishing, displaying or reciting a prohibited phrase.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced the reforms on Sunday at the Queensland Holocaust Museum. The proposed legislation would also increase penalties for assaulting or threatening a person officiating a religious ceremony from two to five years imprisonment, introduce new offences for impeding or harassing people attending religious services with a maximum three years imprisonment; and creates a new special case of wilful damage for damage to a place of worship, with a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.

The Bill seeks to increase penalties for displaying terrorist symbols from six months to two years imprisonment and extend the existing prohibition on the display of symbols to include terrorist organisations or state sponsors of terrorism, including: the Hamas flag and emblem, the Islamic State flag, the Hezbollah emblem and Nazi symbols.

Premier David Crisafulli commented, “This is about drawing a clear line – and stamping out the embers of hatred that were allowed to burn unchecked for too long – to ensure we protect Queenslanders.

“The Jewish community has been clear: Queensland needs stronger legislation backed by real enforcement to drive out antisemitism, and that is exactly what we are delivering.”