New South Wales readies tougher laws against extremist symbols after Bondi attack
Parliament to debate measures banning public displays of extremist flags, curbing hate speech and expanding police powers following a deadly Bondi Beach shooting.
New South Wales on Monday unveiled draft laws to ban public displays of Islamic State flags and other extremist symbols, with offenses carrying up to two years in prison and fines. The move follows a mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration and police described it as a terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State group.
Under the draft legislation, displaying the IS flag or symbols from other extremist groups publicly would be an offense. The plan would also ban chants such as 'globalize the intifada' and give police broader powers to tell protesters to remove face coverings. Premier Chris Minns said hate speech or incitement of hatred has no place in society, and Parliament would debate the reforms on Monday after being recalled.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would introduce measures to curb radicalization and hate, including broadening the definition of hate speech offenses for preachers and leaders who promote violence, designating some groups as hateful, and allowing judges to treat hate as an aggravating factor in online threats and harassment. He told reporters at Sydney's Great Synagogue that the spirit of Australia's Jewish community is unbreakable, adding that Australia will not allow antisemitic terrorists to divide the country and that light will triumph.
Authorities announced a National Day of Reflection on Sunday, the final day of Hanukkah, with flags flown at half-mast on official buildings and Albanese set to join others at Bondi for a minute of silence at 6:47 p.m., the time police first received reports of gunfire.
Police identified one suspect, Sajid Akram, as killed Sunday. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, remained in custody in a New South Wales hospital, charged with 59 offences including murder and committing a terrorist act. Investigators said they are reviewing the evidence against him.
Australia, a nation of about 28 million with roughly 117,000 Jews, has seen antisemitic incidents surge more than threefold in the year since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel launched a war in Gaza in response, according to the government's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal.