Curbing ‘intolerance crisis’ could hit protest, speech

Stronger penalties and boosted police powers to ensure people can practice their beliefs in safety could lead to over-policing of protests, faith leaders warn.

Jewish schools and museums will gain further protection from anti-Semitic graffiti, but discontent is growing about thwarting protests near synagogues and churches.

A rabbi joined other religious leaders warning extra restrictions in NSW would lead to the over-policing of peaceful protests, including those by faith communities.

The proposed changes, to be introduced to state parliament on Tuesday, come amid a spate of antisemitic acts across Sydney and Melbourne, including graffiti, arson attacks and threats of personal violence.

The incidents have inspired the introduction of tougher laws, including legislation that recently passed federal parliament.

NSW Labor’s changes would empower police to move on protesters near a place of worship after concerns about rallies going past the Great Synagogue in Sydney’s centre.

Premier Chris Minns has been warned that would be problematic when many town squares have a church, including outside the Supreme Court.

“Any restrictions on protests in these locations would have a serious impact on the capacity of all communities in NSW to express their views,” progressive faith leaders said in an open letter.

“We urge that, in your legitimate concern to protect worshippers, you do not introduce legislation that may have the unintended consequence of preventing faith communities from speaking out about the wrongs they see around them.”

He told parliament that changes in law would include:

• A new offence targeting the display of Nazi symbols on or near a synagogue.
• An act to create an aggravated offence for graffiti on a place of worship.
• Laws designed to stop people from harassing other people, or intimidating other people from recognising their religion and worshipping at religious buildings.

We’re also backing these laws in as well, Mr Speaker, with more funding for the Hate Crime Unit in the NSW Police.

Signatories included Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black and Edmund Rice Centre director ‘Alopi Latukefu.

David Ossip, the president of The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies , said: “Today, the NSW Parliament took a powerful bipartisan stand against antisemitism and expressed their unwavering support for the Jewish community.

This was a strong demonstration of leadership, and we hope it will help to turn the tide on antisemitism here in NSW.

The Government has now introduced crucial reforms to protect places of worship and strengthen the penalties for those who wield Nazi symbols in an effort to instil fear into Jewish people.

These changes are a welcome step towards stamping out hate.

The Opposition’s proposals in relation to protest laws and penalties for the display of Nazi and terrorist symbols are also sensible and well-warranted.

There is no reason why identity-concealing face masks should be worn at protests or why taxpayers should have to pay millions of dollars every year for repeat protests that adversely impact the public.”

Greens MP Sue Higginson said racism and acts of hate must never be tolerated and always called out.

“But these new laws are extreme and completely unnecessary,” she said.

“It’s clear that the Minns Labor government is not interested in the evidence, or the opinions of civil society organisations and experts.”

Schools and the Sydney Jewish Museum will be added to the list of Jewish sites where graffiti that includes Nazi symbols will attract tougher sentences.

Intentionally blocking of places of worship and harassing or intimidating people trying to come and go will also be criminalised.

NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said stronger penalties and boosted police powers would ensure people could practice their beliefs in safety.

“We believe these proposed reforms strike the right balance between protecting people of faith and the community’s right to protest,” he said.

The premier underlined his determination to protect the Jewish community in his first speech to the parliament in 2025.

“We will not be a state where someone feels like they have to remove their yarmulke (kippah) just to walk down the street, where people are made to hide their heritage because of the ignorance, the bigotry, the racism of other people,” he said.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman agreed the recent attacks were a “stain and blight on our nation” and could spread.

“These attacks are a crisis of intolerance,” he said.

“When hate is left unchecked, it festers. It grows. It seeks new targets.”

Meanwhile, offences aimed at halting the incitement of religious hatred incitement won’t be introduced in the state parliament’s first sitting week as lawmakers chart a narrow course through freedom-of-speech protections.

Rainbow Labor and Equality Australia have pressed for similar protections to be extended to all maligned communities, in line with existing bans on inciting violence on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation and other matters.

“Any community that is being targeted by hate deserves to be protected under the law,” Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown said.

“The government should be stopping all hate before it escalates into acts of violence rather than prioritising the trauma and pain of one community over another.”

A government-ordered review in 2024 specifically recommended against outlawing hatred, warning it could infringe on other rights.

By: Luke Costin/AAP  with J-Wire