PASSED: New Hate Crime and Gun Laws Clear the Lower House

Emergency session response to the Bondi attack moves to the Senate.

ANGLICAN LEADERSHIP INTERVENES: On January 16, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel and Bishop Michael Stead (South Sydney) co-signed a critical letter to the Prime Minister. They warned that the original "Hate Speech" bill was a "minefield of definitions" that threatened religious freedom.

Following this pressure, the Government split the bill today. They have shelved the controversial "racial hatred" sections to ensure the powers to ban hate groups and reform gun laws can pass immediately.

Hate Crime Laws

• Banning Groups: Powers to designate "prohibited hate groups," making membership a criminal offence.
• Hate Preachers: New offences for leaders advocating violence or preaching hate to children.
• Visa Refusal: Greater powers for the Minister to cancel or refuse visas for extremists.

Gun Reforms

• Vetting: Toughened background checks and "fit and proper" tests for licenses.
• National Buyback: Establishment of a federal gun buyback scheme.
• Import Caps: Stricter limits on firearms allowed into Australia.

Parliamentary Update

The House of Representatives passed both bills today (January 20). Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke admitted the laws aren't as strong as Labor wanted, but argued they were essential to stop "racist bigotry." The Coalition supported the hate crime laws but voted against the gun reforms, while the Greens took the opposite stance, backing gun laws but labelling the hate crime bill "dangerous."

NEXT STEP: The Senate is debating the bills tonight. Gun laws are expected to be voted on at 6:30 PM, and the hate crime changes at 10:00 PM.

Last Updated: January 20, 2026 | 5:55 PM AEDT