NSW Labor Accused of Rushing Inquiry into Banning Phrases Including 'Globalise the Intifada'
The NSW lower house law and safety committee is conducting an inquiry into banning phrases such as "globalise the intifada." This inquiry was established to examine prohibitions on hateful statements following the Bondi Beach terror attack and was referred to the parliamentary committee on December 22. There are no planned public hearings, with submissions due by January 12 and a final report expected by the end of January.
Opposition leader Kellie Sloane has criticised the inquiry for being rushed over the holiday season, noting there was no public notice, no public hearings, and a short deadline for submissions. The Liberals have called for a standalone inquiry with public hearings and a longer timeframe, also seeking direct representation on such an inquiry.
Premier Chris Minns has flagged the phrase "globalise the intifada" as hateful rhetoric and expressed intentions to ban it. The government has asked the committee to assess prohibitions on hateful statements before introducing broader legislative changes.
The inquiry's terms of reference include assessing the threat such speech poses to community cohesion, how to curb hate speech without unduly restricting political communication, and considering international best practices, including examples from the UK.
The committee comprises four Labor MPs including chair Edmond Atalla, Greens member Tamara Smith, independent Philip Donato, and Nationals member Paul Toole. Notably, there are no Liberal members on the committee. About 100 stakeholders have been approached for submissions, and the committee has indicated it will act quickly when Parliament returns in early February.
