Victorian Government Announces Sweeping Five-Point Plan to Combat Antisemitism and Hate Speech Following Bondi Terror Attack

The Victorian government has unveiled a comprehensive five-point strategy designed to combat antisemitism and hate speech in the state, responding to mounting pressure following the December 14 Bondi Beach terror attack. Premier Jacinta Allan, alongside Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny, announced the plan on Monday as Melbourne, home to Australia's largest Jewish population, grapples with the aftermath of the mass shooting.

Jacinta Allen with Anthony Albanese / File

The proposed reforms represent the most significant government action on antisemitism in Victoria in recent years and build upon what the government characterizes as already the nation's strongest anti-vilification laws. The five pillars of the plan include strengthening hate speech and anti-vilification legislation, granting new police powers to restrict protests in the immediate aftermath of terrorist events, conducting a comprehensive review of Victoria's gun laws, appointing a new commissioner to implement an anti-extremism strategy, and establishing a long-term pathway for the Jewish community to return to normalcy.

The government's online hate speech crackdown represents a significant expansion of accountability measures. Proposed legislation would make social media platforms potentially liable for hateful material published on their services and would compel these platforms to identify anonymous users responsible for hate speech. The government will also remove existing requirements that the Director of Public Prosecutions consent to police prosecutions for criminal vilification, streamlining enforcement procedures.

Police powers will be substantially enhanced under the proposals. Officers will receive new authority to stop or move on public protests occurring within a yet-to-be-determined timeframe following a designated terrorist event. The government stated it would not implement measures designed to ban protests entirely, characterizing such approaches as undemocratic.

The government commissioned former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay to examine the state's current gun laws and consult with relevant authorities. The examination will consider national cabinet recommendations, including restrictions on open-ended firearms licensing.

A newly appointed commissioner will oversee implementation of a comprehensive counter-violent extremism strategy targeting individuals with far-left ideologies, far-right ideologies, religious extremism, and other ideological motivations. This strategy will emphasize outreach and education programs designed to prevent the emergence of extremists.

A council of prominent Victorians will be convened to develop a pathway toward normalcy for members of the Jewish community, addressing both immediate security concerns and longer-term community wellbeing.

The opposition party, led by Jess Wilson, released a competing three-point plan that calls for more aggressive government action. The opposition plan includes implementing a permit system for protests—a measure that Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has historically opposed and continues to reject despite supporting restrictions on protests immediately following terror events. The opposition also advocates for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism to be implemented across the public sector and for the establishment of a bipartisan steering committee to identify legislative gaps.

Opposition proposals include temporarily funding enhanced security at Jewish schools and synagogues, a measure reflecting heightened security concerns throughout the Jewish community. One independent Jewish school in Melbourne reported spending approximately $650,000 annually on security measures, with costs frequently borne by parents.

The timing of Victoria's response follows New South Wales Parliament being recalled to fast-track legislation on gun ownership and protest activity. Both states are moving toward coordinated national approaches to addressing the security concerns and legislative gaps exposed by the Bondi attack.