PJCIS to review hate symbols legislation

Issue date: Wednesday, 21 June 2023

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The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill 2023.

On 14 June 2023 the Attorney-General wrote to the Committee referring the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill 2023 for the Committee’s review.

The Bill would amend the Criminal Code Act 1995 to:

  • create offences for publicly displaying prohibited Nazi or Islamic State symbols, and trading in items bearing these symbols
  • create offences for using a carriage service to deal with violent extremist material
  • strengthen the offence of advocating terrorism in section 80.2C, and
  • remove the sunsetting requirement for terrorist organisation listings, so that listings would operate until a decision is made to proactively de-list an organisation.

Mr Peter Khalil MP, Chair of the PJCIS said “Reviewing legislation is an important aspect of the PJCIS’ role and the Committee will look at the Hate Symbols Bill to ensure that it appropriately deals with violent extremist material, which is used to incite violence and instil fear in the community.”

Submissions are invited by Friday 21 July 2023.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

Media inquiries

Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP, via Lachlan Hinds
0455 999 677
lachlan.t.hinds@aph.gov.au

For background information

Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on intelligence and Security
(02) 6277 2360
pjcis@aph.gov.au

For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

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