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Politicians from across the spectrum, including One Nation, Labor and teal MPs, have united with Jewish leaders to advocate for enhanced legislation targeting religious extremists. The urgency follows a Melbourne preacher's call to arms against Christians and Jews, highlighting the government's current inability to effectively prosecute hate speech or dismantle extremist networks.
One Nation, Labor and teal MPs have joined Jewish community leaders in calling for new powers to target hate preachers after a religious extremist called for followers to "take up arms" against Christians and Jews.
Calls for Stronger Powers Against Hate Preachers
Wentworth MP Allegra Spender said the statements from Melbourne preacher Abu Ahmad, who is allied to a radical Islamic network, represent a clear and present danger that current laws fail to address.
"I hope the royal commission will make recommendations relating to this, but regardless, I will continue the push and urge all politicians who express sincere concern about hate preachers to back stronger protections," said Spender, whose electorate incorporates Bondi Beach. Reflecting worry about radicalism across the political divide since Australia's worst terror attack, Pauline Hanson also reacted to the provocative rhetoric from a young and increasingly popular figure who has set up a Melbourne "outpost" of cleric Wissam Haddad's Sydney network.
"We need stronger federal powers to shut down the extremist and fundamentalist mosques and Islamic prayer centres. These centres are popping up across our suburbs and seemingly allowing terrorist recruitment and advocacy to fester unchecked," Hanson said.
"Give ASIO and the AFP the resources and targeted powers to dismantle these networks. Bondi should have ended the excuses. Australians must never pay for this government's political cowardice with their lives. Christians aren't calling for jihad.
Hindus aren't calling for jihad.
Legal Gaps Hamper Prosecution of Incitement
" Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim, who remained close to Albanese after the Bondi attack, said the offence of inciting violence was virtually impossible to prove as it was currently drafted. He said authorities were often left to search for other offences, which made it extremely difficult to target religious extremists.
"There has been an air of unreality about the way the hate speech debate has been conducted to date. People who have deliberately and calculatedly promoted hate speech against targeted communities have successfully played well-meaning civil libertarians for suckers," Wertheim said. "It's not a left-right political issue. "
Hate Speech Religious Extremism Anti-Vilification Laws ASIO AFP Bondi Attack Abu Ahmad Wissam Haddad
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