Australia to Crack Down on Hate Speech After Bondi Massacre
A mourner lights candles outside Bondi Pavilion in Sydney on Dec. 17.
Photographer: David Gray/AFP/Getty ImagesAustralia will create new hate speech laws following an alleged Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday that killed 15 people who had gathered to celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
The package will include an aggravated hate speech offense for preachers and leaders who promote violence, increased penalties and make hate an aggravating factor in sentencing crimes for online threats and harassment, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Thursday.