Premier denies ‘overreach’ as states mull Bondi changes

States are mulling NSW’s crackdown on hateful symbols and slogans as anti-immigration rallies draw criticism on Australia’s national day of reflection.

A state premier is making no apology for curtailing freedoms in response to the Bondi terror attack as other states consider following suit.

NSW parliament will be recalled on Monday and Tuesday to pass hate speech laws after two gunmen killed 15 people and wounded dozens more, firing into Jewish faithful celebrating Chanukah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach last Sunday.

The legislation would ban slogans such as “globalise the intifada” and the flags of al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic State.

The proposed changes were slammed by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils as “another step in a deeply troubling pattern where moments of grief are used to justify authoritarian overreach”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said mass major protests would rip apart and tear whatever scar tissue built in the community over the past week.

“This (attack) may have been an evil washing machine of hate with different things tipped into the top,” he told ABC TV on Sunday.

“I believe that in many cases, when you see violent imagery and hateful slogans and chants … it is unleashing forces that the organisers of the protests can’t control.”

Globalise the intifada, an Arabic word that translates to “uprising” or “shaking off,” is not currently deemed by police to meet Victoria’s threshold for criminal prosecution, Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said.

The Victorian government has committed to reviewing proposals from NSW, the federal government and community groups, and has backed Mr Minns’ commitment for a state-based royal commission into the attack.

“We stand ready to continue to implement whatever changes may be necessary to ensure that Victoria’s Jewish community, indeed our entire community, feel safe and are safe,” Victorian minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.

She and Mr Minns have condemned planned anti-immigration rallies in Sydney and Melbourne that coincide with Sunday’s national day of reflection.

Mr Minns said an attack on immigrants was the “last thing” the country needed right now.

NSW Police declared the rally at Prince Alfred Park unauthorised and urged people to reconsider attending as it may “heighten tension or create additional risks to community safety”.

Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas disputed the organisers’ suggestion that they were marching in solidarity with Jewish Australians.

“I am shocked and dismayed that people would think that this is appropriate,” she said.

The Queensland Liberal National government has tasked the state attorney-general and police minister with bringing forward a reform package to combat anti-Semitism.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie hit out at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he said gun laws were only as strong as the weakest state.

Echoing former prime minister John Howard, Mr Bleijie accused Mr Albanese and others of trying to distract from the “core issue” of anti-Semitism.

“I would say to the national government that our … laws against anti-Semitism are only as strong as our weakest prime minister, and that would be Anthony Albanese,” he said.

AAP