Australian hate speech laws

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SUMMARY

The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 passed the Australian Senate on January 21, 2026, with a vote of approximately 38 to 22, despite a split in the opposition coalition. As of July 10, 2026, the Australian government officially banned the extremist group "White Australia" on May 22, 2026, under expanded hate group legislation, marking the second organization banned. Queensland also banned phrases like "from the river to the sea" on June 30, 2026, classifying them as hate speech against Jewish people. The Liberal and National parties reunited on July 5, 2026, after an earlier split over the legislation, with the Liberal Party supporting the bill after securing amendments.

Timeline

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July 2026 — 6 developments

  1. Australian Senate Passes Hate Speech Bill Amidst Coalition Split

    The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 passed the Australian Senate on January 21, 2026, with a vote of approximately 38 to 22. This passage occurred despite a significant split within the opposition coalition, where the National Party opposed the bill due to civil liberties concerns, leading to the resignation of three frontbenchers. The Liberal Party supported the bill after negotiating amendments.

  2. Australian Government Bans Extremist Group Under Hate Group Legislation

    The Australian government officially banned the extremist group "White Australia" on May 22, 2026, under expanded hate group legislation. This action followed recommendations from ASIO and marks the second extremist organization banned under the strengthened laws.

  4. Australian Coalition Restored After National Party Stipulates Senator Reinstatement

    The Australian coalition has been restored after the National Party stipulated the reinstatement of three senators as a condition for reuniting. The parties also agreed to codify shadow cabinet solidarity through formal agreements to prevent future breaches. This reunification follows an earlier split in early 2026 over the Labor government's proposed hate speech laws.

  5. Australia's Liberal Party backs revised hate speech bill after securing amendments

    The Liberal Party has agreed to support Labor's revised hate speech bill after securing amendments that narrow its focus and enhance parliamentary oversight. Liberal leader Sussan Ley stated these changes "fixed" the legislation. Discussions also emerged regarding a mandated digital duty of care for social media platforms.

  6. Australian politicians demand tougher online hate laws amid surge in social media abuse

    Australian politicians are demanding stricter laws against online hate, citing a surge in abuse on social media platforms. This development occurs in the wake of the Liberal-National Coalition's temporary split earlier in the year over proposed hate speech legislation.

June 2026 — 3 developments

  1. Queensland bans 'from the river to the sea' and 'globalise the intifada' as hate speech

    Queensland has banned the phrases "from the river to the sea" and "globalise the intifada," classifying them as hate speech against Jewish people under new legislation. This action follows protests and court challenges regarding the constitutionality of such bans. The legislation was enacted in the wake of a broader national hate speech law passed in January 2026.

  2. Australian National Party to vote against hate speech laws, propose amendments

    The National Party announced it will vote against the Labor government's revised hate speech legislation and will propose its own amendments. Leader David Littleproud stated his party could not be part of a shadow ministry under Liberal leader Sussan Ley following the Liberal Party's decision to back the bill.

  3. Neo-Nazi group White Australia challenges hate speech laws, loses bid to block designation

    The neo-Nazi group White Australia lost a bid in the High Court in June 2026 to temporarily block its designation as a prohibited hate group and is challenging the constitutionality of the anti-hate speech laws. The High Court is scheduled to hear the broader constitutional challenge in September 2026.

April 2026 — 2 developments

  1. Australian Parliament Passes Hate Speech Laws Amidst Controversy and Legal Challenges

    The Australian Parliament has passed new hate speech laws following a deadly terror attack. These laws have led to arrests under Queensland's hate speech legislation for pro-Palestine slogans, prompting vows of legal challenges from critics who argue the laws could stifle legitimate activism.

  2. New South Wales court overturns protest law deemed unconstitutional

    A law in New South Wales that clamped down on protests following the Bondi attack was overturned by a court in April 2026. The court deemed the law constitutionally impermissible and infringing on freedom of political communication. This ruling occurred amidst divisions within Australia's opposition coalition over proposed hate speech laws.

March 2026 — 1 developments

  1. David Littleproud Resigns as Nationals Leader After Coalition Split Over Hate Speech Laws

    David Littleproud resigned as Nationals leader on March 10, 2026, following the Liberal-National Coalition's latest split over the Labor government's hate speech laws. The Coalition had reunited on February 8, 2026, but internal disputes over the legislation led to the collapse of the alliance once more.

February 2026 — 4 developments

  1. Australia's Liberal-National Coalition reunites after split over hate speech laws

    Australia's conservative opposition coalition, the Liberal-National Coalition, has reunited on February 8, 2026, after a split triggered by the Liberal Party's support for the government's hate speech laws. Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley stated, "The coalition is back together and looking to the future, not to the past."

  2. Australia's Liberal-National Coalition Reunites After Three-Week Split Over Hate Speech Laws

    Australia's main opposition, the Liberal-National Coalition, has reunited after a three-week split caused by disagreements over the government's hate speech laws. The split occurred in late January 2026, following the passage of new anti-hate laws in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre.

  3. National Party offers two-week frontbench extension to reunite Coalition; Liberals poised to reject

    The National Party has offered to remain off the frontbench for an additional two weeks as a proposal to reunite the Coalition. However, the Liberal Party is reportedly poised to reject this offer, increasing the likelihood of a prolonged split between the two parties.

January 2026 — 21 developments

  2. Colin Boyce Challenges David Littleproud's Leadership Amidst National Party Split

    Following the National Party's split from the Liberal Party over hate speech reforms, backbencher Colin Boyce has initiated a leadership challenge against leader David Littleproud, announcing he will call for a leadership spill.

  6. Three Nationals senators and Shadow Minister resign from frontbench and portfolio

    Three senior Nationals senators, Ross Cadell, Bridget McKenzie, and Susan McDonald, have been identified as those who resigned from the frontbench. Additionally, Shadow Minister for Financial Services Pat Conaghan also resigned from his portfolio due to the divisions.

  7. Nationals senators defy Coalition agreement, vote against hate speech bill

    The newly passed hate speech legislation has been criticized for being rushed, having vague criteria, and potential unintended consequences, with opposition extending beyond the Nationals to include the Greens, One Nation, and the Senate crossbench. Nationals senators defied a last-minute agreement for the Coalition to vote with Labor on the bill.

  8. New legislation outlaws hate groups, increases penalties for hate preachers, and criminalizes membership

    The new hate speech and extremism legislation outlaws hate groups, increases penalties for hate preachers, and creates new grounds for visa cancellation or denial. It also criminalizes membership, recruitment, and training for hate groups, following the December 2025 Bondi beach terror attack.

  10. National Party Leader David Littleproud Declares Coalition with Liberal Party "Untenable"

    National Party leader David Littleproud formally declared on January 22 that the coalition with the Liberal Party had become "untenable" and "can no longer continue," confirming the collapse of the opposition coalition.

  11. National Party Splits from Liberal-National Coalition Over Hate Speech Laws

    The National Party announced a split from Australia's Liberal-National Coalition in late January 2026 due to disagreements over the government's hate speech laws. Nationals leader David Littleproud stated that three front-bench senators resigned from their shadow ministry positions over the contentious legislation. This move occurred following an urgent parliamentary sitting to address new gun and hate laws, with the hate speech bill proving to be a significant point of contention.

  12. Three Nationals senators resign from Shadow Ministry, triggering further resignations

    The three Nationals senators who voted against the bill resign from the Shadow Ministry, and their resignations are accepted by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. This triggers the resignation of all remaining National frontbenchers from the shadow cabinet.

  16. Australian Parliament passes hate speech and extremism legislation; three Nationals senators defy party

    Australia's Parliament passes the new hate speech and extremism legislation with support from the Labor government and the Liberal Party. Three Nationals senators (Bridget McKenzie, Susan McDonald, and Ross Cadell) cross the floor to vote against the bill, defying the Coalition's official position.

  17. Critics warn Australia's new hate speech laws could suppress academic expression

    Critics have raised concerns that Australia's new hate speech laws, specifically the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill, could suppress academic expression. The original draft included a new 'vilification' offense for 'publicly inciting racial hatred'.

  18. Australian government abandons racial hatred offense plan due to Senate opposition

    The Australian government abandoned its plan to create new offenses for inciting racial hatred as part of its reforms, due to a lack of support in the Senate from both the Coalition and the Greens.

  21. Prime Minister announces Parliament recall for 'Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026'

    Prime Minister announces Parliament will be recalled to consider the 'Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026', initiating the legislative process that would lead to the Coalition's split.

December 2025 — 1 developments