Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been forced into an embarrassing backdown on hate speech reforms, having to remove proposed racial vilification laws after realising he did not have the numbers to pass legislation in the Senate.
Having insisted that Federal Parliament be recalled this week to debate one Bill that covered hate speech and gun control reforms, Mr Albanese fronted the media on Saturday and declared the legislation would be split into two — with a key component removed.
Racial vilification provisions would be removed.
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“We will not be proceeding with the racial vilification provisions because it’s clear that that will not have support,” he said.
Parliamentarians have been called back to debate the bills on Tuesday.
“The racial vilification laws do not have the support of the Senate,” Mr Albanese said.
“That is what the Greens Party and the Liberal Party have made clear.
“So, we deal with the Parliament that we have.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher press conference in Canberra on Saturday – The PM will split his controversial Bondi Bill to ensure new gun laws pass through parliament, after it was made clear the Greens and Coalition would not support proposed changes to hate speech laws. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS
The omnibus bill included the creation of a new Federal offence that would make it illegal to publicly promote or incite racial hatred.
But opponents to the bill said the changes impacted on free speech.
Mr Albanese’s press conference came just hours after the Greens said they would side with the Coalition.
“The Greens are willing to work with the government to pass gun laws, but the rest of the omnibus bill needs a huge amount of work,” leader Larissa Waters said on Saturday.
The Jewish Community of WA issued a statement on Saturday saying it agreed with separating the bills.
“We agree with separating the parts of the bill dealing with firearms regulation into separate legislation,” it read.
“We also welcome the proposed immigration reforms and banning of hate groups and symbols.
But the Jewish community was disappointed that racial vilification provisions had been removed.
“We are dismayed to learn of the intention not to proceed with racial vilification provisions,” the statement read.
Proposed new gun laws will also include a national gun buy back scheme following the Bondi terror attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher press conference in Canberra on Saturday – The PM will split his controversial Bondi Bill to ensure new gun laws pass through parliament, after it was made clear the Greens and Coalition would not support proposed changes to hate speech laws. 7NEWS Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS
A spokesman for Liberal leader Sussan Ley described Mr Albanese’s change of tack as the Prime Minister having to face reality.
“He has decided to split what he told Australians was an un-splittable bill, including when directly asked by the Opposition Leader face-to-face, and he has made wholesale changes without hearing back from the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security, a process he said was critical for scrutinising the bill,” the spokesman said.
“Not only has his timeline curtailed community voices from being heard, but now he ignores the inquiry altogether including the over 7000 submissions that organisations and individuals rushed to submit to meet his arbitrary deadline.
“Anthony Albanese told Australians he took the time to get this right, today makes clear that was not an honest statement.”
Ms Ley’s spokesman said the Liberals would look at the details of Mr Albanese’s announcement but would not “be lectured about unity by a man who defied Australia on a Commonwealth Royal Commission and once again tried to defy Australia on his botched legislation”.
