Overview
- Draft laws would empower local governments to issue cease-use notices and, if ignored, disconnect utilities at premises operating without planning approval.
- Penalties would rise to $110,000 for individuals and $220,000 for corporations, and councils would be required to consult NSW Police before approving new places of public worship.
- Premier Chris Minns says the measures target hate, intimidation or extremism and are designed to apply across all religions.
- The move follows Canterbury-Bankstown Council’s closure of the Al Madina Dawah Centre and a Federal Court finding that preacher Wissam Haddad delivered antisemitic material.
- The federal government is preparing to recall parliament before Australia Day to introduce expanded hate-speech and vilification offences, with details still being drafted.