The Liberal National Party Coalition is signalling potential support for “hate speech” laws to deal with anti-Semitism in the community.
This comes after the Labor Party confirmed it is working on laws to punish those who vilify based on race, sexuality, gender, disability or religion.
Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan said the Coalition will work with the government on hate speech laws that deal with anti-Semitism.
“We look forward to working with the government in a bipartisan way to deal with this issue and, in particular, to deal with anti-Semitism, which we’re seeing sadly grow and grow in this nation,” Mr. Tehan told reporters in Canberra.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus is responsible for drafting the new legislation and is still finalising the details, according to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.
Ms. Rowland said the penalties are “under active discussion” as the government finalises the laws, although she was not able to say if it includes jail.
The minister added the government will not tolerate “hatred or abuse” on the basis of people’s race or religion.
Discussion on the hate speech laws comes after the words “Jew die” were sprayed on the fence of Melbourne’s biggest Jewish school, Mount Scopus Memorial College.
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) called for greater action from government in the wake of the incident.
President Philip Zajac said the death threat graffitied on the school fence had left the community devastated and in shock, adding, “we cannot let this behaviour continue.”
“It is time for clear action—increase penalties for serious vilification, lower the barrier for prosecution and take steps to prevent hate from continuing to thrive.”
Minister Concerned With Both Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
Meanwhile, Labor Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said he is concerned about the increasing level of both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
“And unfortunately, it’s people in our community who are suffering, whether it’s the Jewish community or the Islamic community, both are subject to outrageous attacks, and we just call for national unity, people to be conscious about their language, to be moderate.”
