Bondi Beach shooting: PM Albanese targets hate speech in crackdown - Watch

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced a crackdown on hate speech, saying his government would introduce new laws to target those who spread hate, division and radicalisation, following Sunday’s deadly shooting at a Jewish festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

Speaking in Canberra, Albanese said the measures would include penalties for preachers and leaders who promote violence, a new federal offence of “aggravated hate speech”, and the inclusion of “hate” as an aggravating factor in sentencing for online threats and harassment. He also said the home affairs minister would be given expanded powers to cancel or refuse visas for individuals who spread hate. A new taskforce will be set up to ensure the education system “prevents, tackles and properly responds to antisemitism”.



“Every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe, valued and respected for the contribution that they make to our great nation,” Albanese said, adding that the attackers, “inspired by ISIS,” had sought to turn Australians against each other. “Australians have responded to that act of hatred with love and sympathy for those in mourning,” he said. Albanese acknowledged criticism from the Jewish community that more could have been done to counter antisemitism since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, saying he accepted responsibility as prime minister. “I accept my responsibility for the part in that as prime minister of Australia,” he said, adding that his responsibility was also to “lead the nation and unite the nation”.




Albanese said Australians were “shocked and angry” by the attack. “I am angry,” he said. “It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge.”

The announcement comes after Sunday’s attack that killed 15 people and left several injured, when two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach.

The suspects, identified as father-and-son duo Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, deliberately targeted Jewish attendees. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son Naveed remains under guard in hospital. Investigators recovered Islamic State-linked material, homemade flags, and improvised explosive devices from the suspects’ vehicle, leading officials to classify the attack as ideologically motivated. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the suspects had been radicalised by “an ideology of hate” and that the attack was intended as a mass-casualty assault on the Jewish community. The tragedy drew global condemnation. The attack shocked the nation and heightened concerns over rising antisemitism in Australia.

On Thursday, the youngest victim of the attack, 10-year-old Matilda, was laid to rest in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Yellow toy bees were placed on her small white coffin, inspired by her middle name, Bee, while mourners wore yellow and brought bee-themed toys and balloons. The line outside the hall where the funeral was held snaked down the street, with many mourners unable to get inside watching the service on a screen outside the building.

“The tragic, so totally cruel, unfathomable murder of young Matilda is something to all of us as if our own daughter was taken from us,” Reuters quoted Rabbi Yehoram Ulman saying. “Matilda grew up like a child would, loving what children love. She loved the outdoors, animals. She went to school, she had friends, everybody loved her.”

Some mourners were angry at the government, saying it had not done enough to combat antisemitism in recent years. “It’s like your heart’s been ripped out. It’s terrible … no one wants this,” said Jae Glover, 25, as he handed out bee stickers. “It’s a feeling, it could have been avoided. Antisemitism has now been brewing in Australia for over two years”, Reuters reported.