Name: Albanese pledges tougher hate speech laws after Bondi massacre
Uploaded: 2025-12-18T06:08:58.878Z
Duration: 1 min 58 s
Description: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced sweeping reforms to clamp down on antisemitism in the wake of the deadly Bondi terror attack, while conceding his government is not perfect and could have done more before the tragedy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced sweeping reforms to clamp down on antisemitism in the wake of the deadly Bondi terror attack, while conceding his government is not perfect and could have done more before the tragedy.

Canberra

The Australian Prime Minister has publicly accepted responsibility for the government's response to the Bondi massacre, acknowledging that more could have been done to protect Jewish Australians. In Canberra, he announced a series of new measures, including strengthened federal hate speech laws, a new offence targeting hate preachers, and tougher penalties for promoting violence.

The government will also empower the Home Affairs Minister to cancel or refuse visas and launch a year-long taskforce to address antisemitism on university campuses. The announcement comes amid significant public anger and criticism that these actions should have been implemented sooner.

Albanese pledges tougher hate speech laws after Bondi massacre

expressing his condolences and contrition. Look, of course more could have always been done. Governments aren't perfect. I'm not perfect. The Prime Minister back in Canberra and at the centre of community anger, acknowledging his government could have taken stronger action to protect Jewish Australians in the lead-up to the Bondi massacre. I accept my responsibility for the part in that as Prime Minister of Australia. Standing alongside his special envoy to combat antisemitism, and accepting all recommendations she made five months ago. This more formal response has been a long time coming. To address division and radicalisation, the federal government will now strengthen its hate speech laws with a new federal offence to capture hate preachers and tougher penalties for promoting violence. We all know the gateway to violence that that sort of language provides. They haven't met the legal threshold to date. We can have free speech, we can disagree, but we need bright lines about what you can and you can't say in relation to inciting hatred. The Home Affairs Minister's getting greater powers to cancel or refuse visas, and a year-long taskforce will address antisemitism on university campuses. Something that he should have announced two years ago, and then just as a start. Will you recall Parliament over summer to get these laws passed? Look, these are quite complex, to make sure as well that they stack up in any legal challenge to them. Four days on from the tragedy, we've now seen a significant shift in the Prime Minister's tone, conscious of the fury felt towards him. The opposition leader today joined mourners at Matilda's funeral. Anthony Albanese didn't attend, saying he's spoken to victims' families and respecting their wishes. Should he be here? No, because he has that girl's blood on his hands. Australians are shocked and angry. I am angry. But is it enough to heal a nation? Chloe Boris, 10 News.

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