Australia strict after Bondi Beach attack: New laws on those who spread hatred, power to cancel visas too

• Announcement of formation of task force

Sydney (. After the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced to take strict measures against hate speech and “hate preachers”. The federal government has made it clear that now the screw will be tightened on such people, including religious preachers, who promote hatred, violence and division in the society. Under this, hate speech laws will be made more strict and new powers will be given to cancel or reject the visas of such people. Will go.

Prime Minister Albanese made the announcement on Thursday as people attended the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi attack in Sydney. 15 people died in this attack and it is considered one of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of Australia.

Albanese acknowledged that more could have been done to deal with rising anti-Semitic incidents in Australia following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. He said the government would now fully adopt Jillian Segal’s plan to tackle anti-Semitism. Under the new plan, “aggressive hate speech” will be criminalized for preachers and leaders who spread hate, there will be tougher punishment for speeches promoting violence, and hatred will be considered a basis for enhanced punishment in cases of online threats and harassment. Apart from this, a list will be made of such institutions whose leaders promote racial hatred or violence.

Home Minister Tony Burke said that the legal threshold for prosecution will now be brought down, so that it will be possible to take action against those organizations and individuals who till now have got away by staying just below the legal limit. Education Minister Jason Claire has also announced the creation of a special task force to tackle anti-Semitism in schools and the education system. The Prime Minister said the attack was not just an attack on the Jewish community but on the Australian way of life and the country must fight more vigorously against this “disease of hate”.