‘Dangerously low bar’: Labor says hate speech laws a gag on freedom of speech

The Queensland opposition has aired reservations about supporting proposed hate speech laws and accused the Crisafulli government of playing politics in the aftermath of a national tragedy.

The omnibus bill introduced in response to the terror attack at Bondi Beach includes the criminalisation of phrases associated with the pro-Palestinian movement: “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada”.

The laws would also give the attorney-general of the day the power to ban any phrase they see fit, and allow police to conduct warrantless searches of anyone suspected of committing the offence.

In a submission to the relevant parliamentary committee, the Labor opposition labelled those powers given to the attorney-general “a dangerously low bar”.

“While it is noted this is the same process for the banning of symbols in Queensland – there is often clear identification of a symbol’s meaning, representation or intent,” the opposition wrote.

They noted other states were considering similar laws, but only through legislated changes, not regulation that would give one person the choice.

“The attorney-general can just quietly release a new regulation one day and then that is banned, without any public consultation or active publication and notification from the government of the day,” they said.

Currently, only the two phrases – both commonly heard at pro-Palestine rallies – are on the planned ban list.

“This section of the bill is largely viewed as a gag on the freedom of speech afforded to Queenslanders,” Labor said.

The party said it would support gun reform and urged the government to add mandatory mental health checks for gun license holders and to align their laws with other states.

“We continue to hold reservations about the effectiveness of these elements to prevent another Wieambilla or Bondi shootings,” they said.

“However, there are strong new offences relating to religious worship and places of worship, which the Queensland Labor opposition supports with no hesitation.”

Speaking in Cairns on Friday, Premier David Crisafulli said the laws addressed antisemitism and would stop terrorists and criminals accessing guns.

“The legislation is very specific, the regulations are very specific, in response to antisemitism, which is what we said we were going to do,” he said.

He said the two phrases were calling for the “elimination of a race of people”, and needed to be banned.

An opposition spokesman said the partyroom would settle on a position at caucus on Monday before the legislation returns to parliament next week.

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