The Australian Parliament has passed changes to hate crime legislation, introducing mandatory prison terms for hate speech and terrorist offences. About this informs BBC.
The government has described the amendments as the toughest hate crime laws Australia has ever seen. Under the new rules, publicly displaying hate symbols or performing a Nazi salute carries a minimum of one year in prison. In addition, the financing of terrorism is punishable by three years of imprisonment, and the commission or planning of terrorist acts – at least six years.
The changes were adopted against the background of an increase in anti-Semitic attacks, which have become one of the main topics of discussion in the country. Last week, a caravan was found with explosives and an anti-Semitic note in Sydney, before a kindergarten was set on fire near a Jewish school and a synagogue, which also had anti-Semitic graffiti on its walls. In December, a synagogue in Melbourne was set on fire during a service, but serious casualties were avoided.
Nazi salutes and the use of symbols, including the swastika, have been banned in Australia since January 2024. However, prison terms for such crimes have now become mandatory.
