Security Committee to hear about hate symbols legislation

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) is holding a public hearing today, September 1, for its review of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill 2023.

The committee will hear from a range of government and non-government representatives to discuss the bill’s proposed prohibition of displaying and trading in Nazi and Islamic State symbols, as well as other measures in the Bill to strengthen terrorism offences.

The committee’s website has a full program for the hearing, and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Peter Khalil MP, Chair of the PJCIS, said, “The committee looks forward to hearing a range of views to inform its consideration of the Hate Symbols Bill. We will be particularly interested in hearing about possible unintended consequences and how these might be addressed to ensure that the Bill appropriately deals with violent extremist material.”

On June 14, 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; and
• remove the sunsetting of terrorist organisation listings.

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

Public hearing

1 September 2023
9am – 4pm AEST
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra; and via videoconference.

 

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