Caretaker conventions now in place

The Australian Government is operating in accordance with caretaker conventions ahead of the 2025 federal election. New material issued after 9am 28 March 2025, including transcripts, speeches and media releases, will not be available on this site. This information is usually available on the Australian Labor Party website, which is not maintained or funded by the Australian Government.

Albanese Government strengthens hate speech laws

The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
Media Release

The Albanese Government has today delivered landmark reform to strengthen hate speech laws.

No Australian should be targeted because of who they are or what they believe.

This Bill delivers the toughest laws Australia has ever had against hate crimes.

The Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024 creates new criminal offences and makes clear that advocating or threatening the use of force and violence is unacceptable and will be subject to serious criminal penalties.

The Bill targets the most serious forms of harmful hate speech, namely advocating and threatening the use of force or violence against a group or member of a group or against a place of worship.

These offences will protect groups, or members of groups, distinguished by race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status, disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin or political opinion.

This Bill follows the Albanese Government’s laws which criminalised the public display of Nazi and terrorist organisation symbols, and the Nazi salute.

We are sending a clear and unambiguous message that advocating or threatening violence is not acceptable. It is criminal behaviour and will be treated as such.

We proudly live in a vibrant, multicultural and diverse community which we must protect and strengthen.

The Albanese Government is acting to keep the community safe and ensure that people are free to live their lives safely and freely.