Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised a “whole-of-nation response” to rising antisemitism, outlining a package that blends criminal-law reform with migration enforcement. Speaking outside Parliament House on 23 December, the PM said cabinet had agreed to: 1) create aggravated hate-speech offences carrying five-year jail terms; 2) empower authorities to list and ban extremist organisations; and 3) streamline visa refusals for individuals who propagate violent bigotry.
The new measures build on the stand-alone Migration Act bill tabled by Home Affairs but go further, treating hate motivation as an aggravating factor in sentencing for any Commonwealth crime. Companies that host international conferences or bring in short-term assignees will have to screen keynote speakers and attendees against a forthcoming “prohibited organisations” register. Event organisers could face civil penalties if they facilitate entry for a listed extremist group.
Legal experts say the overlap between criminal and immigration regimes will create complex compliance questions. “We’ll have two tracks—one where the person is prosecuted, another where their visa is simply cancelled. That raises double-jeopardy and procedural-fairness issues,” notes Professor Azadeh Dastyari of Monash University.
![Albanese flags sweeping hate-crime overhaul – including tougher visa powers – after Bondi shooting]()
For organisations suddenly facing these tighter entry controls, VisaHQ’s Australia-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) can help by pre-screening travelers, flagging potential compliance risks and providing real-time alerts on visa policy changes. Conference planners, HR teams and mobility managers can therefore adapt itineraries quickly and avoid penalties under the forthcoming legislation.
Business councils, however, back the reforms, arguing that investor confidence depends on social stability. The Australian Banking Association says expatriate families are already asking whether schools are safe. “If hate preachers can be kept out or removed quickly, that helps reassure global talent,” CEO Anna Bligh told reporters.
Draft legislation will be released for two-week consultation over Christmas, an unusually compressed timeline. The government wants the bills passed before the first anniversary of the Bondi attack in December 2026, giving enforcement agencies twelve months to prepare new training, intelligence-sharing protocols and airport screening questions.
The new measures build on the stand-alone Migration Act bill tabled by Home Affairs but go further, treating hate motivation as an aggravating factor in sentencing for any Commonwealth crime. Companies that host international conferences or bring in short-term assignees will have to screen keynote speakers and attendees against a forthcoming “prohibited organisations” register. Event organisers could face civil penalties if they facilitate entry for a listed extremist group.
Legal experts say the overlap between criminal and immigration regimes will create complex compliance questions. “We’ll have two tracks—one where the person is prosecuted, another where their visa is simply cancelled. That raises double-jeopardy and procedural-fairness issues,” notes Professor Azadeh Dastyari of Monash University.
For organisations suddenly facing these tighter entry controls, VisaHQ’s Australia-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) can help by pre-screening travelers, flagging potential compliance risks and providing real-time alerts on visa policy changes. Conference planners, HR teams and mobility managers can therefore adapt itineraries quickly and avoid penalties under the forthcoming legislation.
Business councils, however, back the reforms, arguing that investor confidence depends on social stability. The Australian Banking Association says expatriate families are already asking whether schools are safe. “If hate preachers can be kept out or removed quickly, that helps reassure global talent,” CEO Anna Bligh told reporters.
Draft legislation will be released for two-week consultation over Christmas, an unusually compressed timeline. The government wants the bills passed before the first anniversary of the Bondi attack in December 2026, giving enforcement agencies twelve months to prepare new training, intelligence-sharing protocols and airport screening questions.
