Stop the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate & Extremism Bill

Turning Point Australia has lodged a formal submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security regarding the proposed Combatting Antisemitism, Hate & Extremism Bill 2026. While we unequivocally condemn racial hatred, intimidation, and political violence, our submission raises serious concerns about the Bill’s scope, structure, and long-term implications for free political communication, civil liberties, and democratic participation.

Over the weekend, the Government announced that the Bill in its original form had been withdrawn. However, this has been widely misunderstood.

The Bill has not been abandoned. It has been strategically split into two separate Bills, with the most dangerous elements still intact.

What Was Actually Removed

Only three pages of the original legislation were withdrawn: Part 5 of Schedule 1, dealing with specific racial vilification offences. This represents approximately 2% of the original Bill.

Contrary to public claims, the hate group listing regime and extremism provisions remain.

If you review public statements and briefings from Anthony Albanese and senior ministers, the Government has been careful in its wording. They have not removed Schedule 1 in full, only one subsection. The core enforcement architecture remains untouched.

How the Bill Has Been Re-Engineered

The Government has now split the legislation in a way designed to neutralise opposition:

• One Bill covers firearms, customs, and importation powers, expected to pass easily with support from the Australian Greens.
• The second Bill retains:
  • Hate group listing powers
  • Expanded executive discretion
  • New offences linked to association, support, or expression
  • Serious risks to lawful political activity

This second Bill is expected to pass with the support of the Liberal Party, unless significant pressure is applied in the Senate.

Why This Matters

These provisions go far beyond addressing violence or intimidation, which are already covered by existing criminal law. Instead, they introduce vague, expansive powers that risk:

• Chilling legitimate political speech
• Criminalising association or advocacy
• Allowing retrospective or overseas conduct to justify domestic sanctions
• Concentrating excessive power in the executive

This is not targeted reform. It is structural overreach.

What Happens Next

The legislation is expected to be introduced and rushed through Parliament within 24 hours. The House will pass it – Labor has the numbers. The Senate is the only remaining point of resistance.

Public declarations of “victory” over the weekend were premature and inaccurate. The legislative threat has not ended, it has been repackaged.

Turning Point Australia continues to oppose this legislation on principled grounds and will keep advocating for the use of existing laws, which already provide strong and proportionate protections against violence, threats, and intimidation without undermining democratic freedoms.

We encourage Australians to remain engaged, informed, and vigilant. That’s why Turning Point Australia have created this tool for concerned citizens to easily email their Senators to tell them not to pass the second Bill.