US Official, Jewish, and Muslim Groups Raise Concern About Australia’s Impending Anti-Hate Bill
Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia Jillian Siegel listens to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speak to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Jan. 8, 2026. AAP Image/Lukas Coch

The broad bill is the Albanese government’s main response to the Bondi terror attack and covers hate speech to the national gun buyback scheme.

by Rex Widerstrom on the Epoch Times

The Albanese government’s hastily-drafted “Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026” has been met with a broad array of criticism, with conservative politicians, the U.S. undersecretary of state, Jewish, and Muslim groups uniting to criticise it.

The new omnibus-style law was drawn up in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist mass shooting attack that targeted a Jewish celebration, killing 15 people and injuring 40 others.

Along with creating a new national gun buyback scheme and an additional layer of security checks when approving firearms licences and reviewing current holders, the 144-page draft also introduces a new framework under which the Minister for Home Affairs can list and criminalise “hate groups.”

It will only be open for public submissions for two days.

The bill also expands the definition of hate symbols to include those of any group prohibited under the new legislation.

The minister also gains expanded powers to refuse or cancel visas, which he can already do on “character grounds.”