Jewish leaders welcome new antisemitism legislation passed by federal parliament

Australia’s federal parliament has passed the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, with Jewish community leaders describing the legislation as an important and overdue response to rising antisemitism and extremist activity.

The bill was approved late last night following debate in both houses, alongside a condolence motion for the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack during Chanukah celebrations in December. The attack, which killed 15 people, has become a central reference point in parliamentary arguments for stronger action against hate-based violence.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry welcomed the bill’s passage, saying it marked “a substantial step towards achieving effective laws against the deliberate promotion of hatred”.

ECAJ president Daniel Aghion said the legislation introduced a new legal regime allowing the federal government to proscribe extremist hate groups that fall short of existing terrorism thresholds. This includes neo-Nazi organisations and Hizb ut-Tahrir.

“These are organisations that engage in, prepare, plan, assist or advocate hate crimes,” Aghion said, adding that even before the bill passed, the prospect of proscription had already disrupted the activities of some groups.

The ECAJ noted it has been calling for such powers since 2021 and said earlier action could have curbed the climate of antisemitic hate that has intensified in recent years.

While a proposed new criminal offence for deliberately promoting racial hatred was removed during negotiations, the council said other measures in the bill were significant. These include broader bans on the public display of hate symbols and tougher penalties for existing offences, including the use of carriage services such as social media to menace, harass or cause offence.

Aghion thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, Opposition Leader Susan Ley and Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash for their roles in drafting and securing the bill’s passage. He also singled out MPs Josh Burns, Julian Leeser and Allegra Spender for their advocacy.

“No legislation is perfect, but the provisions of this new legislation represent a substantial achievement,” Aghion said. “The speed of its passage demonstrates that our parliament can work quickly and decisively when faced with urgent necessity and that Australia as a nation will never be dictated to by terror.”

He urged parliament to act on the broader commitments made during the condolence motion, warning that deliberate racial hatred, whether justified in the name of religion or free speech, must be confronted firmly.

“Whilst the Jewish community is presently the main target, every group and every individual in society is potentially at risk in the future,” Aghion said.

The legislation will now be sent for royal assent before coming into force.

Aghion said protecting the Jewish community ultimately safeguards the broader public, warning that unchecked racial hatred threatens everyone in the country. “By fulfilling their duty to protect and support the Australian Jewish community, our political leaders will ultimately protect and support all citizens and thereby restore peace and harmony to our nation,” he stated.