Reforms to fight antisemitism and hate and protect faith communities

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering strong, decisive action to combat antisemitism, address terrorist-motivated offending to make Queensland safer. 
• The reforms will ensure that Queenslanders can live, worship and gather safely.
• The legislation will deliver reforms focused on terrorist symbols and phrases, and safety around places of worship.
• The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer after Labor failed to crackdown on antisemitism during their decade of decline.  

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a comprehensive package to crackdown on antisemitism and terrorist symbolism, bolster safety around places of worship, and make Queensland safer.  

The tough laws - to be introduced in Parliament this week - deliver a suite of changes focused on terrorist symbols and phrases, and safety around places of worship, and is the first of several strong measures being delivered by the Crisafulli Government in the wake of the Bondi beach terrorist attack.  

The reforms deliver on the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to stamp out antisemitism and terrorist extremism to ensure every Queenslander – including the Jewish community, which has experienced a rise in antisemitic attacks – can live, worship and gather safely.  

To address intimidation at places of worship, the Bill: 

• Increases penalties for assaulting or threatening a person officiating a religious ceremony from 2 to 5 years’ imprisonment;
• Introduces new offences for impeding or harassing people attending religious services (maximum 3 years’ imprisonment);
• Creates a new special case of wilful damage for damage to a place of worship, with a maximum penalty of 7 years’ imprisonment. 

The Bill introduces tougher measures to curb terrorist symbols, including:  

• Increasing penalties for displaying terrorist symbols from 6 months to 2 years’ imprisonment.
• Extending the existing prohibition on the display of symbols to include terrorist organisations or state sponsors of terrorism, including:
  • the Hamas flag and emblem, the Islamic State flag, the Hizballah emblem and Nazi symbols.

To restrict terrorist slogans, the Bill:  

• Proposes a new offence prohibiting the public distribution, publication, public display or public recitation of a prescribed phrase to cause menace, harassment or offence, applicable to:
  • “globalise the intifada”
  • “from the river to the sea” 

• Distributing, publishing, displaying or reciting a prohibited phrase imposes a 2 year maximum penalty. 

Premier David Crisafulli said the reforms delivered the strongest possible protections to address the growing threats faced by the community and was making Queensland safer.  

“We called this out from the beginning, we said we’d act, and through this legislation, we are delivering a strong and considered response,” Premier Crisafulli said.  

“This is about drawing a clear line - and stamping out the embers of hatred that were allowed to burn unchecked for too long - to ensure we protect Queenslanders. 

“The Jewish community has been clear: Queensland needs stronger legislation backed by real enforcement to drive out antisemitism, and that is exactly what we are delivering.” 

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the Crisafulli Government was standing with the Jewish community - unwaveringly - in both words and action. 

“We are bolstering protections for the Jewish community, so they know that this Government is doing everything possible to stop the rise of antisemitism,” the Attorney‑General said. 

“This Bill represents a focused and practical step forward for Queensland. It introduces targeted reforms to ban terrorist symbols and phrases and improve safety around places of worship.  

“Together, these changes reinforce our commitment to protecting communities and ensuring Queensland remains a safe, inclusive state for everyone.”  

Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg said the reforms will make the Jewish community feel safer, more protected and confident about living our lives openly. 

“For the past two and a half years, the Jewish community has endured unprecedented levels of hate, intimidation and fear and the reforms send a clear message that antisemitism and hate have no place in Queensland,” Mr Steinberg said. 

“Our community greatly appreciates the commitment by the Crisafulli Government to ensure Jewish Queenslanders can live, work and play just like any other Queenslander. This Bill moves beyond words and delivers real, practical protections for our community and for all people targeted by hate. 

“This is not only a welcome and necessary step for Jewish people, it is vital for rebuilding the confidence we have lost as hatred has run rampant.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Premier Crisafulli – Jordan Fabris, 0418 198 814 

Attorney-General - Claudia Stevenson 0435 155 490