Reforms To Fight Antisemitism And Hate And Protect Faith Communities

The Government is delivering a comprehensive package to crackdown on antisemitism and terrorist symbolism, bolster safety around places of worship, and make Queensland safer.  

The tough laws - recently introduced in Parliament - deliver a suite of changes focused on terrorist symbols and phrases, and safety around places of worship, and is the first of several strong measures being delivered by the Government in the wake of the Bondi beach terrorist attack.  

The reforms deliver on the Government’s commitment to stamp out antisemitism and terrorist extremism to ensure every Queenslander – including the Jewish community, which has experienced a rise in antisemitic attacks – can live, worship and gather safely.  

To address intimidation at places of worship, the Bill:

• Increases penalties for assaulting or threatening a person officiating a religious ceremony from 2 to 5 years’ imprisonment;
• Introduces new offences for impeding or harassing people attending religious services (maximum 3 years’ imprisonment);
• Creates a new special case of wilful damage for damage to a place of worship, with a maximum penalty of 7 years’ imprisonment.

The Bill introduces tougher measures to curb terrorist symbols, including:  

• Increasing penalties for displaying terrorist symbols from 6 months to 2 years’ imprisonment.
• Extending the existing prohibition on the display of symbols to include terrorist organisations or state sponsors of terrorism, including:

• the Hamas flag and emblem, the Islamic State flag, the Hizballah emblem and Nazi symbols.

To restrict terrorist slogans, the Bill:  

• Proposes a new offence prohibiting the public distribution, publication, public display or public recitation of a prescribed phrase to cause menace, harassment or offence, applicable to:

• “globalise the intifada”
• “from the river to the sea”

• Distributing, publishing, displaying or reciting a prohibited phrase imposes a 2 year maximum penalty.

Premier David Crisafulli said the reforms delivered the strongest possible protections to address the growing threats faced by the community and was making Queensland safer.  

“We called this out from the beginning, we said we’d act, and through this legislation, we are delivering a strong and considered response,” Premier Crisafulli said.  

“This is about drawing a clear line - and stamping out the embers of hatred that were allowed to burn unchecked for too long - to ensure we protect Queenslanders.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the Government was standing with the Jewish community - unwaveringly - in both words and action.

“This Bill represents a focused and practical step forward for Queensland. It introduces targeted reforms to ban terrorist symbols and phrases and improve safety around places of worship," the Attorney‑General said.

Full media statement: https://statements.qld.gov.au/

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