PM recalls parliament to fast-track hate speech and gun laws in wake of Bondi terror attack

"Anthony Albanese will push the Coalition and the Greens to support urgent legislation proposing tougher hate speech laws and gun reform, bringing MPs back to Canberra next Monday in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. Recalling parliament two weeks early, the prime minister said hate speech and anti-vilification laws would be considered in the same legislation as provisions to establish the biggest gun buyback program since the Port Arthur massacre."

"The government promised to crack down on so-called hate preachers, creating a new racial vilification offence and listing groups as prohibited hate groups, a lower threshold than the terror group listing. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Jewish groups, the opposition and crossbench MPs will be briefed on the hate speech legislation from this afternoon, with the bill to be released publicly tomorrow. The legislation will also be reviewed by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ahead of its introduction."

"The prime minister would not confirm whether he has bipartisan support from the opposition for the plan, but said he expects the laws to pass the Senate by Tuesday night. The laws will increase penalties for hate crime offences, and ensures that offenders whose crimes are motivated by extremism have that factored into their sentencing. The bill will also create a new framework for the home affairs minister to list organisations as prohibited hate groups and set up a national guns buyback scheme."

Anthony Albanese recalled parliament two weeks early to pursue urgent legislation combining stronger hate-speech and anti-vilification measures with a national gun buyback scheme. Parliament will sit on 19 and 20 January to consider the bills. The package includes a new racial vilification offence, powers to list prohibited hate groups at a lower threshold than terror listings, increased penalties for hate crimes, and sentencing that accounts for extremist motivation. Jewish groups, opposition and crossbench MPs will be briefed and the bill will be reviewed by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The prime minister denied political motive and expects Senate passage quickly.

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