Overview
- The draft omnibus pairs new racial hatred crimes with gun measures, including a buyback scheme, tougher background checks, expanded visa‑cancellation powers and a regime to ban designated hate groups.
- The core offence criminalises public conduct intending to promote or incite racial hatred that causes a reasonable target to fear intimidation or violence, carrying up to five years’ jail, with a 10‑year maximum for preachers or when minors are targeted.
- Constitutional scholars warn the broad 'promote' threshold and narrow defences could clash with the implied freedom of political communication, leaving social media users and artistic works with limited protection.
- Religious leaders caution the bill’s definitions and potential retrospective exposure create legal uncertainty, while Jewish representatives back tougher laws but oppose a carve‑out for quoting religious texts.
- Senior Liberals, including Andrew Hastie, now signal opposition as Nationals reject the firearms elements, the government defends the package as a Bondi response, a committee report is due Friday and the Greens weigh support ahead of next week’s debate.