The federal Opposition is calling on the government to recall parliament to debate legislation, accusing Labor of announcing its new laws to combat antisemitism two years late and allowing antisemitism "to fester."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to introduce laws to combat antisemitism in Australia, describing it as an "evil scourge" following the Bondi Beach attack, in which 15 people attending a Hanukkah celebration were killed.
Albanese said he would fully adopt a report on combating antisemitism delivered by antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, which the government has been criticised by some members of the Jewish community for sitting on.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley said Albanese "failed to listen" and "failed to act" in protecting Jewish Australians.
"Two years ago, Jewish Australians told you more needed to be done and they told you what needed to be done to curb the rising tide of antisemitism, which has been allowed to fester," she said in Sydney following the prime minister's announcement.
"Now the package that the prime minister announced today is something that he should have announced two years ago."
Ley wants Albanese to recall parliament before Christmas.
"We demand that the parliament is recalled to pass legislation to eradicate antisemitism and counter violent extremism. That can happen as early as next week," she said.
'I accept my responsibility', Albanese says
Responding to questions about whether the government could have done more to prevent an antisemitic attack, Albanese said "more could have always been done".
"I of course acknowledge that more could have been done, and I accept my responsibility for the part in that as Prime Minister of Australia. But what I also do is accept my responsibility to lead the nation and unite the nation," he said in Canberra on Thursday.
Ley said that "we didn't see the prime minister take responsibility for the Bondi massacre".
"Australians watching their prime minister today are angry. This is not the time for excuses. The prime minister failed to listen and the prime minister failed to act," she said.
Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi said addressing antisemitism is in "urgent need".
"This tragic attack in Bondi has brought to the fore the urgent need to address antisemitism and racism comprehensively," she said in a statement.
"We continue to call on the government to fully fund and implement the National Anti-Racism Framework, which is a roadmap to tackling systemic and structural racism."
What is the proposed legislation?
The attorney-general and home affairs minister will develop legislation that covers five key points, Albanese said on Thursday.
These are:
— Aggravated hate speech offences for preachers and leaders who promote violence.
— Increased penalties for hate speech promoting violence.
— Making hate an aggravating factor in sentencing crimes for online threats and harassment.
— Developing a regime for listing organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech, promoting violence or racial hatred.
— Developing a narrow federal offence for serious vilification based on race and/or advocating racial supremacy.
The home affairs minister will also have new powers to cancel or reject visas "for those who spread hate and division in this country, or would do so if they were allowed to come here", Albanese said.
A 12-month task force designed to ensure the education system prevents and responds to antisemitism will also be established.
For the first time, the Commonwealth government's disaster relief recovery fund will be used to support victims of a terror attack, as the federal and NSW governments agreed to financial compensation.
Coalition counter proposal
Ley would like to see the antisemitism envoy given a statutory office under its own legislation, and for there to be powers to strip dual citizenship from "extremists and radicals".
"As you listen and read this package, you will see that it is providing Jewish Australians and all Australians with the security that they demand today," she said.
The Coalition's proposal also included terminating Creative Australia funding agreements for artists who "support antisemitic activities" and reviewing educational curricula with reference to Jewish history, culture and identity.
"We will make universities accountable for combating antisemitism by amending the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 to include combating antisemitism as a provider condition," Ley said.
In a statement, the Greens said they would "welcome positive reform to eradicate dangerous hate speech but will closely review Labor’s proposal to ensure it does not unreasonably restrict free political speech".
"We must not head down a path where academic freedom and freedom of speech on university campuses are compromised. That will not make anyone safer," Faruqi said.
"We can and must address antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism in our society without criminalising debate or peaceful protest."
'Hate preachers' being investigated
Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Krissy Barrett announced the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team will execute further search warrants in the coming days in relation to the Bondi attack.
Alleged gunman Naveed Akram was charged with committing a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, where 15 people were shot dead, and 49 were injured. The 24-year-old has been charged with a total of 59 offences.
Barrett said the AFP is investigating "people who have been described as hate preachers".
"These individuals who spew hatred and cause fear are on my radar, and I have had the counter-terrorism and special investigations command reviewing information and other material in relation to these individuals since I became the commissioner," she said.
ABC News reporting has linked Naveed Akram to an extremist cleric in Sydney.
Two homemade self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group flags were found in the vehicle used by the alleged gunmen in Bondi.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government was "shifting the threshold" on organisations that can be charged with hate speech offences.
"There have been organisations which any Australian would look at and say their behaviour, their philosophy, and what they are trying to do is about division, and has no place in Australia," he said.
"And yet, for a generation, no government has been able to successfully take action against them because they have fallen just below the legal threshold.
"We have no time for organisations where their mission is to hate Australia and to hate fellow Australians."
Asked whether the Bondi attack was motivated by religion, Albanese said it was motivated by extremism, referring to the IS group.
"This was about extremism. This was IS inspired. We know IS distorts and corrupts Islam which leads to radicalisation."
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