The Committee received an unusually large amount of correspondence and submissions from individuals and organisations in response to this inquiry. Publication of submissions is not automatic; each submission received needs to be reviewed for acceptance by the Committee prior to its publication. Due to the short timeframes involved, it was not possible to review and publish all submissions before the Committee’s report was tabled. However, in this instance, the Committee has agreed to continue to accept and publish (where appropriate) valid submissions that were received by the submission due date. Due to the large numbers involved and our limited resources it will take some time before all submissions are reviewed and published. We appreciate your patience.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Hon Tony Burke MP, wrote to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (the Committee) on 12 January 2026 to refer an Exposure Draft of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 for inquiry and report.

The Exposure Draft legislation and its Explanatory Memorandum are available on the Attorney-General’s website here: https://www.ag.gov.au/crime/hate-crime-offences

The proposed legislation aims to further criminalise hateful conduct, expand powers to allow for cancellation or refusal of visas and set up a national firearms buyback scheme. The Bill contains five schedules of amendments:

• Schedule 1 contains amendments to legislation regarding criminal law

• Schedule 2 contains amendments related to migration laws

• Schedule 3 contains customs amendments

• Schedule 4 contains amendments to firearms-related legislation

• Schedule 5 contains transitional rules.

The Committee invites submissions to the inquiry by 4pm (AEDT), Thursday, 15 January 2026.

Please note that the Committee’s review concerns the exposure draft bill, not broader issues that may be the subject of other inquiries. Submissions will only be accepted if they relate to some or all parts of the proposed new laws.

Further information about making a submission to a parliamentary committee is available here.