In December 2025, a terrorist attack at a Jewish Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, Sydney, in which 15 people were killed, shook Australia’s sense of security and triggered an urgent push for law reform. The attack — widely described as antisemitic and terror-inspired — exposed gaps in national counter-extremism frameworks and sparked broad political debate about how best to protect communities, strengthen national security, and safeguard social cohesion.

In the weeks and months since the tragedy, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Labor Government have moved to introduce what they describe as a comprehensive legislative package to tackle hate speech, violent extremism, and gun violence — measures collectively referred to in government releases as the “Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.”

Below, we outline the key elements of Labor’s proposed legislation, the context driving it, and the political and legal debates it has sparked.

1. The Legislative Framework: What Laws Are Being Proposed?

Labor’s response spans multiple legal domains — with the federal government chasing reforms that cut across criminal law, immigration, gun control, and hate speech regulation. These reforms are being introduced through a package of bills in the recalled federal Parliament ahead of its scheduled February sitting.

a. New Federal Hate Speech Offences

The centerpiece of the legislative response is a new federal hate speech regime criminalising public promotion or incitement of hatred against people based on race, colour, ethnicity or national origin:

• It would be illegal to publicly promote or incite hatred intended to intimidate, harass, or cause fear of violence — with penalties up to five years in prison.

• The law would also target extremist or hate leaders — such as religious officials or ideological figures — if they use their platform to advocate or threaten violence against protected groups, with higher penalties up to 12 years.

• Harsher penalties are proposed for aggravated hate crimes, including schemes designed to harm persons or property.

This measure represents one of the strongest federal hate speech proposals in Australian history and — according to the Government — aims to fill a void in existing Commonwealth law where racially motivated incitement was not specifically criminalised.

b. Expanded National Gun Laws and Buyback Scheme

In tandem with hate speech reforms, Labor is pursuing stricter gun regulations:

• A national firearm buyback scheme has been proposed, modelled on the major buyback program that followed the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

• The legislation would introduce tighter licensing standards, expanded background checks, and restrictions on certain high-capacity weapons and accessories.

• States and territories would partner in implementation, with law enforcement responsible for enforcing the removal and destruction of prohibited firearms.

These changes respond directly to the weapons used in the Bondi attack and reflect a renewed bipartisan call within the community for stronger gun safety laws.

c. Hate Group and Symbol Offences

The bill expands the legal tools available to target prohibited groups and hate symbols:

• The Home Affairs Minister would gain powers to list and ban organisations engaged in or advocating hate crimes.

• It would be a criminal offence to be a member of such prohibited groups, or to recruit, train, fund, or support them.

• The definition of hate symbols would be broadened to go beyond traditional Nazi iconography to include symbols associated with other extremist groups.

d. Visa and Migration Reforms

Labor’s package also seeks to tighten migration law provisions:

• The Home Affairs portfolio would be able to refuse or cancel visas for individuals who have spread hatred or extremism — including online — or who have alleged links to terrorism or hate groups.

• This proposal aims to prevent foreign-linked extremist influences from establishing an operational foothold in Australia.

e. Sentencing and Aggravation Factors for Extremism Motives

Additional reforms would revise sentencing laws to ensure that extremism or hate-based motivation is a considered aggravating factor at sentencing — potentially leading to tougher penalties for terror and hate-motivated crimes.

2. Royal Commission Into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion

Beyond statutory law, the government has commissioned a Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion — led by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell. This inquiry will examine the broader landscape of antisemitism in Australian society and institutional responses, as well as the specific circumstances of the Bondi attack. The commission is tasked with recommending changes to improve policing, intelligence coordination, and communal resilience.

The interim portion of the inquiry — focusing on law enforcement and intelligence performance — is due by April 2026, with the final report due by December 2026.

3. Political and Legal Debate

Labor’s legislative package has proven contentious in Australian politics, prompting a range of responses from across the political spectrum.

Opposition and Crossbench Challenges

The Coalition has publicly signalled opposition to parts of the hate speech reforms, arguing that they risk infringing on free speech and civil liberties. Senior Liberal figures have voiced reservations and plan to oppose the bill in the Senate unless it is amended.

At the same time, the Greens and civil liberties advocates are pushing for broader protections — especially in how the laws define protected groups — suggesting current drafts may insufficiently cover minorities beyond race and ethnicity.

Controversy Over Religious Exemptions

A notable flashpoint has been the inclusion of an exemption that would allow quoting religious texts in the context of discussion or teaching without criminal liability — an element critics argue could undercut the effectiveness of the hate speech laws. Jewish leaders and legal experts have publicly warned that the exemption is too broad and could inadvertently shield extremist rhetoric.

4. Broader Legal Context

Australia’s federal framework already contains anti-terrorism legislation, such as the Anti-Terrorism Act 2005, which criminalises acts associated with terrorism and provides tools like control orders and preventative detention in defined circumstances. The current legislative push does not replace these laws but adds new layers specifically targeting hate incitement and extremist organisation structures, reflecting a hybrid policy approach that blends counter-terrorism with hate crime prevention.

5. What Comes Next?

With Parliament recalled for a special session in January 2026, the Government is pressing ahead with debate and potential passage of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026. The outcome will likely require negotiation with crossbench senators to secure passage, particularly given the Coalition’s resistance and Greens’ push for amendments.

In the meantime, the Royal Commission and ongoing public consultation processes will shape public understanding of antisemitism, extremism, and social cohesion — elements that lawmakers hope will inform future legislative refinements.

Conclusion

The Albanese Government’s legislative program in the wake of the Bondi attack represents one of the most expansive and politically charged law reform initiatives in recent Australian history. Framed as a necessary evolution of the legal framework to address hate-motivated violence and protect vulnerable communities, the approach has drawn both support and criticism concerning civil liberties, scope, and legal detail.

As the bills proceed through Parliament, the debate will test Australia’s capacity to balance security, freedom of expression, and social harmony in an era of intensifying ideological conflict — including the deeply polarised discourse surrounding global events such as the Middle East conflict. The long-term impact of these laws, should they be enacted, may well shape Australia’s legal and social landscape for years to come.