In the wake of the December 14 terror attack at Bondi Beach, an urgent response from the government has led to the decision to recall Parliament next week to deliberate on new hate speech and gun buyback legislation. These measures are aimed at addressing the growing concerns about safety and extremism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, during a press conference this afternoon, announced that both houses of Parliament will reconvene on January 19 and 20, ahead of their previously planned return on February 2. This swift action underscores the seriousness with which the government is treating these issues.
“This afternoon, I will formally request the Speaker of the House of Representatives to recall Parliament next Monday and Tuesday,” Albanese stated to the press, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
The Prime Minister highlighted the concerning trend where individuals and groups have been able to incite violence without overtly crossing legal lines. “For a while, they have created a pathway for others to engage in violence, while being careful not to explicitly call for it themselves,” he noted.
To address this, the proposed legislation aims to redefine and lower the threshold of what constitutes incitement to violence, within the limits of the Constitution. “This bill will lower that threshold, and lower that threshold to the extent that we can within the Constitution,” Albanese explained.
“This bill will lower that threshold, and lower that threshold to the extent that we can within the Constitution.”
ASIO chief Mike Burgess called out both organisations for testing the “limits of legality” while fuelling division in a speech about foreign interference in November.
The bill will be released to the public and open to submissions tomorrow.
The prime minister will brief Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Greens leader Larissa Waters on the draft legislation this afternoon and is hopeful it will pass by Tuesday afternoon.
“I would expect that there will be cooperation,” he said.
“I’m hoping that the laws can be passed efficiently and quickly with the support of the entire parliament.”
