Overview

• The Albanese government introduced a hate crimes bill that criminalizes threats of violence based on race, religion, gender, and other protected characteristics.
• LGBTQ+ and Jewish groups expressed disappointment that the bill does not include broader provisions against hate speech and vilification.
• The bill proposes up to five years in prison for threats of violence, with penalties increasing to seven years if the threats pose a danger to the government.
• A separate bill was introduced to criminalize doxing, with penalties of up to seven years for targeting individuals based on protected characteristics.
• Critics argue that the new laws prioritize freedom of speech over the safety of minority groups and fail to address the increasing prevalence of hate speech.