Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Federal Parliament will be recalled early to debate sweeping new hate speech and gun laws, as his West Australian ministers defend the timing of a royal commission into the Bondi terrorist attack.
Parliament Recalled for Urgent Debate
Mr Albanese confirmed Parliament will sit on January 19, just days away, to consider legislation described as the most significant expansion of hate speech laws in Australian history. The move comes in direct response to the attack at Bondi Beach last month, which left 15 people dead and 40 others injured.
"The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands, this law will deal with both," the Prime Minister stated. He emphasised the complexity of the proposed laws, noting they would go further than any previous legislation and involve careful constitutional consideration.
Ministers Defend Royal Commission Timeline
The announcement follows the government's decision last week to establish a year-long royal commission into the attack and the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia. That decision came 25 days after the tragic event, amid mounting pressure from victims' families, Jewish community leaders, and prominent business figures.
WA-based Resources Minister Madeleine King, speaking in Rockingham, defended the timeline. She avoided directly answering whether she would have preferred a quicker announcement, instead focusing on the thoroughness of the process.
"Much will be made of what has been said and not been said," Ms King told reporters. "I know in the immediate aftermath... our government, our Prime Minister, our Attorney-General, our Home Affairs minister, and the members of the NSC, the National Security Committee, have been working every single day on this."
She acknowledged media calls for action but stressed the importance of proper procedure. "This is an event that has changed the nation... there's no doubt about it," she said, adding that the royal commission would be a crucial investigation into anti-Semitism and social cohesion.
A Focus on Effectiveness Over Speed
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Fremantle MP Josh Wilson echoed the sentiment, rejecting claims the government had acted too slowly. "Australians expect the government to respond to something as awful and grave and serious and momentous as Bondi in an effective and timely way, but both of those things are important for it to be effective," Mr Wilson argued.
Ms King reiterated that the right decision had been made, stating the Prime Minister and his ministers had listened to the calls for an inquiry. "I understand people might have wanted different things at different times, but I know... there's been an extraordinary amount of effort gone into addressing what is a tragic moment in our country's history and making sure it never happens again," she said.
The Prime Minister framed the new laws as essential for protecting Australia's social fabric. "We want to ensure that Australia remains a society where everyone has the right to be proud of who they are. And we also want to make it clear that conduct which is hateful, dangerous, and divisive will also be illegal," Mr Albanese said.
