The government’s hate crimes bill has passed the parliament after all but one of the present Liberal senators voted with the government to pass the legislation.
The National Party voted against it after failing to successfully move amendments, crossing the floor from their senior Coalition partner. Liberal senator Alex Antic also crossed the floor, voting against the rest of his party.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud said earlier tonight that this move did not “reflect on the relationship within the Coalition”.
The laws will create powers to designate organisations as “hate groups”, which would mean members and donors could be jailed. The government said the law was aimed at targeting neo-Nazi groups and radical Islamist groups.
They will also create more powers for a minister to cancel or refuse a visa if a person has spread hateful or extremist views, and create new aggravated offences for religious or spiritual leaders who advocate violence, and penalise religious leaders who preach hate to children.
Alongside the Nationals, who voted against the bill were the Greens, One Nation, United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet, independents David Pocock, Fatima Payman, and Tammy Tyrrell.
Source: Expensive-Horse5538
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[**Amendment to criminalise flag burning fails**](https://www.theage.com.au/national/australia-news-live-parliament-recalled-to-pass-hate-speech-gun-laws-in-response-to-bondi-attack-20260120-p5nvbj.html?post=p59srv)
>An amendment to criminalise the burning of the Australian flag has been moved and failed.
>The Coalition, One Nation, United Australia Party and independent senator Tammy Tyrrell voted for the motion.
>Labor, the Greens and independents, including David Pocock and Fatima Payman, voted against the motion.
[Nationals leader David Littleproud said that while the nationals are against it, and that their decision won’t impact the Coalition agreement.](https://thenightly.com.au/politics/australian-news-and-politics-live-coalition-to-reveal-position-on-labors-hate-speech-gun-reform-after-bondi-c-21361610?utm_campaign=share-icons&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=clipboard&tid=1768911037690#44022)
In other words, the knifes are no doubt going to be coming out.
What a great day for our wounded nation. A day of hope and optimism.
To all the actual progressive left-wing Greens supporters here, I know very well that you’re at best feeling uneasy and at worst you’re disgusted and ashamed at the so-called progressive party you vote and support after their act on the floor of the Senate today defending organisations like the Nazi NSN’s right to exist and legally operate, and then voting against this bill that will finally ban this terror-lite group.
Unfortunately in recent years the Greens have been flirting and sympathising with far-right causes and groups and this is only going to get worse I think. The Greens have shifted so far left that the far-right is closer to them than the centre – horseshoe theory has never been more accurate in Australia before. The Greens are not who they used to be.
Hmm Littleproud, why did you need to clarify that I wonder
>There have been a few moments of comedy in this late-night sitting of the Senate.
>As opposition home affairs spokesperson Jonno Duniam attempted to corral Liberals to vote on an amendment proposed by the National Party, he called out for “Coalition senators” to join him before correcting himself to say “Liberal senators”. (ouch lol)
>Nationals remained in their seats, as the tired cohort of Liberals moved to the other side of the chamber to vote against the junior Coalition partner.
>Environment Minister Murray Watt called out to Duniam: “Not Coalition senators. Is there a Coalition?”
So if you form a religion build its own holy texts you can be exempt from this new law. I’m wondering if someone can make a cooker religion that allows people to speak freely to circumvent the law in real time with added passages online?
Well similar laws to designate bikie gangs as banned organisations without due process have been tried and successfully challenged by the High Court.
Heres hoping the High Court can provide the only remaining check and balance for a gross overreach of a bill rushed through both houses in a crude mockery of democracy.