Labor’s ambitious plans to overhaul Australia’s hate speech laws in response to the Bondi terror attack have hit a major obstacle after the Greens withdrew support for key measures, aligning with the Coalition in opposing significant parts of the omnibus bill.
The proposed reforms, designed to curb antisemitism, empower authorities to ban extremist groups, and tighten visa rules, have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with opponents warning of potential threats to free expression.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley labelled the legislation “unsalvageable,” arguing that it lacked adequate consultation and posed risks to democratic freedoms. “This bill threatens free expression and has been rushed through without proper consideration,” she said, calling for a complete overhaul.
Greens leader Larissa Waters confirmed on Saturday that her party would only support elements of the package related to gun safety, specifically Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s proposed $1 billion gun buyback scheme and the introduction of a national firearms registry.
“The Greens are ready to work with the government to pass gun laws next week,” Senator Waters said in a statement shared on X. “The rest of the omnibus bill, however, needs too much reworking to meet community concerns. We need to keep all people in the community safe from discrimination and hatred, but good laws don’t come from rushed work.”
Senator Waters stressed that the Greens would not back measures that could criminalise legitimate political expression. “With each passing hour, more concerns are raised by legal experts, faith groups, and communities. The risk of unintended consequences is too great to rush the passage of this legislation,” she said.
While the Greens remain open to future negotiations, Waters emphasised that comprehensive legal analysis and community consultation would be necessary to produce workable laws targeting hate speech. “The negotiations required to produce a good outcome on this omnibus bill can’t be done in the extremely tight time frame the government has created,” she said.
Earlier this week, Waters urged the government to expand protections beyond Jewish Australians to include all faith groups, as well as LGBTQ+ and disability communities. “We can’t combat hate if we don’t combat it for everyone,” she said, highlighting concerns that the bill’s narrow focus could leave other communities vulnerable.
The legislation includes new powers for authorities to ban hate groups, tighter visa rules for potential extremists, and a new criminal offence for promoting hatred. Civil liberties groups, however, warn that some provisions could inadvertently suppress legitimate debate and political expression.
With Parliament set to resume on Monday, negotiations over the legislation are expected to intensify. Analysts say Labor may now need to significantly amend the bill to secure broader support or risk a parliamentary defeat.
Speaking from flood-affected Queensland on Thursday, Prime Minister Albanese defended the legislation, criticising the Coalition’s opposition as premature. “People have dismissed this legislation that they call rushed without even reading it, and have made comments that are just not right,” he said. Albanese reiterated that the reforms were aimed at tackling the rising threat of antisemitism and extremist activity while improving community safety.
The Greens’ partial withdrawal underscores the challenges of passing sweeping social reform in a divided Parliament, particularly under tight legislative deadlines. Legal experts and community groups have urged Labor to slow the process, warning that hurried laws could produce unintended consequences while failing to fully protect vulnerable communities.
As the debate continues, observers expect Labor will have to balance its commitment to tackling hate speech with the need to safeguard civil liberties, while negotiating support from both minor parties and the Coalition. The outcome of the negotiations will likely shape Australia’s approach to hate speech and extremist activity for years to come.
