Federal Parliament passes Australia's toughest hate speech and hate crime laws with mandatory sentencing

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Federal Parliament has passed what the government calls Australia’s toughest laws against hate speech and hate crimes. Labor conceded to Coalition demands for mandatory sentencing to secure support for the bill.

Transcript

00:00In Parliament's overflow chamber, after dark, the Albanese government revealed it had a

00:08deal.

00:09The toughest laws Australia has ever had against hate crimes.

00:13But it came with a back down.

00:15Labor, historically opposed to mandatory sentencing, caved to coalition demands for minimum jail

00:22terms for terror offences, terror financing and for displaying hate symbols.

00:28With the amendments adopted, the bill was fast tracked through the House and the Senate.

00:34The Parliament is acting today because the Prime Minister has been dragged, kicking and

00:38screaming to finally introduce tough legislation.

00:42The laws have been beefed up in response to a rise in anti-Semitism and amid continued

00:47pressure from the coalition.

00:49Today Peter Dutton writing to the Prime Minister demanding a probe into when he was briefed

00:54about the discovery of an explosive laden caravan on the outskirts of Sydney.

00:59Of what was believed to be the biggest planned terrorist attack in our country.

01:06The caravan was discovered on January 19.

01:09The State's Premier confirmed he was briefed the next day.

01:12A day later, he was with the Prime Minister touring a childcare centre that had been torched.

01:18But Anthony Albanese has never revealed if he was told about the caravan plot before

01:23news of the investigation leaked to the media on January 28.

01:28Saying only he's regularly briefed by agencies.

01:31It's inconceivable that the Prime Minister didn't know about it.

01:34In Queensland's flood zone, Anthony Albanese continued to stonewall.

01:38For Peter Dutton, there is no issue too big for him to show how small his approach to

01:46politics is.

01:47The Prime Minister is brushing off Peter Dutton's pursuit, but his refusal to say when he knew

01:52about the caravan terror plot means the questions will just keep coming.

01:58In his absence from Parliament today, both sides returned to their well-worn lines on

02:02cost of living, knowing this is the ground on which the election will ultimately be fought.

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