PM rules out pre-Christmas recall after Bondi attacks

Federal parliament won’t be recalled for an emergency session before Christmas to legislate measures to limit anti-Semitism and hate speech after the Bondi massacre.

Anthony Albanese has announced a five-point plan to crack down on antisemitism, including tougher penalties for hate speech that promotes violence.

The measures were unveiled in response to Sunday’s Bondi attack, during which two Islamic State-inspired gunmen killed 15 people and injured dozens more when they targeted Hanukkah revellers.

The prime minister has come under pressure from Jewish organisations and the federal opposition to roll out urgent reform to tackle anti-Semitism, with the latter pushing him to recall parliament to pass the measures before Christmas.

Anthony Albanese says bipartisanship is needed following the act of terror at Bondi Beach. (Dominic Giannini/AAP PHOTOS)

But Mr Albanese said that move would not be practical and the government needed to ensure it got the laws right.

“We want to make sure that these laws don’t get passed and then get knocked over … we want to make sure that they are very tight,” he said.

Parliament is scheduled to resume in early February.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Labor’s response to anti-Semitism was “too little, too late”.

“My message is if you preach hatred, if you preach radical Islam in a way that hurts or harms your fellow man or woman, if you incite, if you glorify terrorism, if you are not an Australian citizen you will be deported,” she said.

Sussan Ley has called for the deportation of non-citizens who preach “radical Islam”. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

The prime minister said bipartisanship was needed following the act of terror in Bondi, the deadliest attack in Australia since Port Arthur in 1996.

The government has announced a $42.6 million package for extra mental health support for those traumatised by the attack.

The funding was targeted at providing support for Jewish Australians, as well as providing more money for crisis support lines that have been overrun since Sunday.

Jewish groups have welcomed Labor’s announcement to establish an anti-Semitism education task force that will examine how the education system can prevent the issue taking root.

It will be led by David Gonski, a prominent businessman and member of the Jewish community who conducted a landmark review of school funding.

Universities have been accused of allowing anti-Semitism to fester on campuses. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

The move forms part of the government’s response to a plan by anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal, whose recommendations included defunding universities and cultural institutions that failed to stop the spread of anti-Jewish hate.

Labor had not formally responded to the report since it was published in July.

Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said the government needed to do more to push back against the “obsessive hatred of Israel and Zionists that emanate from progressive and Islamist spaces”.

The government has been reluctant to endorse Ms Segal’s more controversial proposals, including her call to strip funding from universities that were found to have failed to provide a safe space for Jewish students.

By: Jacob Shteyman and Grace Crivellaro/AAP