What was debated: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This transcript does not include debate on the bill itself. It records a parliamentary intelligence and security committee tabling its review of a draft version of the bill, which included a dissenting report. It also records Senator Payman moving motions asking the government to table documents about how this bill and two related laws were developed.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Senator Payman moved motions seeking emails, briefings and meeting notes between ministers and their departments about how the bill was developed in December 2025 and January 2026.
5 speeches by 3 members in the House and Senate over 2 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 20 Jan 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 23 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
What was debated: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
Introduced after the December 2025 Bondi terrorist attack, this bill raises penalties for threatening violence against groups, creates tougher offences for religious leaders who preach violence and adults who radicalise children, and makes racial hatred count against offenders at sentencing. It lets the government list and ban 'prohibited hate groups' and widens powers to refuse or cancel visas for spreading hatred. A planned racial vilification offence was removed before debate, and the debate focused on that removal, the rushed process, and safeguards.
Arguments made in support
The government said violent extremism starts with words, and the bill targets people and groups who spread hate before violence happens.
Coalition speakers supported the bill after negotiating changes, saying it closes a gap that let groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir and neo-Nazi groups operate legally.
Supporters said hate group listings require high thresholds, ASIO advice and a parliamentary disallowance process, plus a review after two years.
The Coalition said changing the visa test from 'would' to 'might' pose a risk was reasonable to protect Australians.
Labor members said the bill was an important step, but argued the Coalition should have supported the removed vilification laws.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Many crossbench members, the Greens and some Coalition members said the bill was rushed, with little time to read it and a very short committee inquiry.
The Greens opposed the bill, saying it could chill protest and political speech, especially about Palestine, and unfairly targets migrants and Muslims.
Crossbench members said protections should cover religion, sexuality, gender and disability too. Their amendments for this did not pass.
Critics said the hate group listing power lacks procedural fairness and merits review. Amendments for review, sunset clauses and parliamentary approval failed.
The Nationals and One Nation sought a Senate inquiry, and Barnaby Joyce opposed the bill for relying on state definitions of hate crimes.
98 speeches by 48 members in the House and Senate over 5 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 20 Jan 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 20 Jan 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 3 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 4 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 26 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
What was debated: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This bill was a response to the December 2025 Bondi terrorist attack, in which 15 people were killed. It sets up a framework for a national gun buyback, lets ASIO and criminal intelligence inform state firearm licence decisions, tightens gun import rules, creates offences for sharing 3D-printed gun blueprints online, and bans imports of extremist material. Labor and the Greens supported it, while the Coalition and One Nation opposed it, and the debate focused on whether gun laws were the right response and how fast the bill was passed.
Arguments made in support
The Government said the attackers used legally held guns, and under these changes they would have held none, since one was not a citizen.
Government and Greens speakers said Australia now has over four million registered guns, more than before Port Arthur, and about 2,000 are stolen each year.
Supporters said sharing ASIO and criminal intelligence with licensing authorities closes a gap, a measure many opponents also backed.
Labor and Greens senators said fewer guns and tighter import rules also lower risks from domestic violence and attacks on police.
The Greens said the Government agreed in writing to set up a national firearms safety council to keep gun laws up to date.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Coalition and One Nation speakers said the attack was caused by Islamist extremism, not lawful gun owners, and the bill unfairly targets farmers and sporting shooters.
Opponents said the bill was rushed, with little consultation and a short inquiry that received over 7,000 submissions.
The Coalition said the buyback lacks fair market value pay and business compensation like 1996, and some states have not agreed to it.
Opponents said criminals will not hand in guns, and limits on online material could catch lawful owners reading manuals or reloading guides.
Independents in both houses backed parts of the bill but moved amendments for domestic violence checks, a later inquiry, a review and fair compensation.
110 speeches by 52 members in the House and Senate over 4 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 20 Jan 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 20 Jan 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 3 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 4 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Australia's Voice
1 Yes
0 No
The last column counts members who did not vote. Party counts are for current members.
2 votes were cast by people who have since left Parliament.
Every party member who voted went with the majority of their party.