Advocates who use a pro-Palestine chant could face imprisonment under new laws to tackle antisemitism and hate speech that are set to be introduced to Queensland parliament this week.
The suite of reforms will include tougher penalties on the use of symbols such as swastikas, Nazi emblems, the Hamas and Islamic State flags, and the Hezbollah emblem.
They will also crack down on intimidation and wilful damage at places of worship, with penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment.
The Crisafulli government plans to criminalise the public use of phrases “globalise the intifada” and “from the river to the sea”, the latter a prominent global chant used by advocates calling for the liberation of Palestinian people amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Premier David Crisafulli told media outlets the laws, set to be tabled in the first sitting week of the year, were necessary to protect Queenslanders and stamp out antisemitism following the Bondi terror attack in December, in which 15 people were killed and dozens injured at a Jewish Hanukkah event.
“We called this out from the beginning, we said we’d act, and through this legislation, we are delivering a strong and considered response,” he said.
“This is about drawing a clear line – and stamping out the embers of hatred that were allowed to burn unchecked for too long – to ensure we protect Queenslanders.”
Crisafulli said his government had listened to advice from the state’s Jewish community, which had called for stronger legislation to drive out antisemitism.
Queenslanders found guilty of assaulting or threatening a person officiating a religious ceremony will also face harsher penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment, and three years for impeding or harassing people attending religious services.
A new special case of wilful damage to a place of worship has been added to the laws, with a maximum penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment.
The announcement came ahead of a controversial visit to Australia by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
While the nation’s peak Jewish groups have welcomed the visit, pro-Palestine groups and the left-wing Jewish Council of Australia have labelled it inflammatory and divisive, with nationwide marches, including in Brisbane, planned to protest Herzog’s arrival.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
