Australian PM vows crackdown on hate speech

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised a sweeping crackdown on hate, division and radicalization on Thursday after a mass shooting killed 15 people at a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach.

"Australians are shocked and angry. I am angry. It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge, much more," Albanese told a news conference.

The prime minister outlined a suite of measures to target extremist preachers, impose stiffer punishments, and refuse or cancel visas for people who spread "hate and division."

As he spoke, mourners gathered for the funeral of a 10-year-old girl among those gunned down while celebrating Hanukkah on Dec. 14 at Sydney's iconic beach.

Critics in the Jewish Australian community and beyond have assailed the prime minister for not doing more to protect them from rising antisemitism.

New "aggravated hate speech" laws will punish preachers and leaders stoking hatred and violence, Albanese said.

He vowed harsher penalties, too.

Australia would develop a regime for listing organizations with leaders who engage in hate speech, he said.

"Serious vilification" based on race or advocating racial supremacy is to become a federal offense.

The government will also boost the home affairs minister's powers to cancel or reject visas for people who spread "hate and division," he said.

Albanese said a task force is being set up with a 12-month mission to ensure the education system "properly responds" to antisemitism.

"Every Jewish Australian has the right to be proud of who they are and what they believe," he said.

"And every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe, valued and respected for the contribution that they make to our great nation."

PHILIPPINES, ISLAMIC STATE LINKS INVESTIGATED

Police allege the attack was carried out by Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed. Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram was charged with 59 offences including murder and terror charges on Wednesday after waking from a coma. His case has been adjourned until April 2026, the court confirmed on Thursday.

The centre-left Labor government has ruled out holding a Royal Commission, a high-level inquiry with judicial powers, into the shootings for now.

On Wednesday, the leader of New South Wales where the attack took place said he would next week recall the state parliament to pass urgent reforms on gun laws.

Police are looking into Australia-based Islamic State networks as well as the gunmen’s alleged links to militants in the Philippines.

The Philippines’ National Security Council on Wednesday said that while Sajid Akram and his son had been in the country for a month in November the pair had not engaged in any military training.

Islamic State-linked networks are known to operate in the Philippines and have wielded some influence in the south of the country.

“There is no valid report or confirmation that the two received any form of military training while in the country and no evidence supports such a claim at present,” Philippine national security adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement.