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Huge move to silence hate preachers
New South Wales councils gain powers to close illegal prayer halls and disconnect utilities, with fines rising to $220,000 for corporations to combat venues hosting hate speech.
- On Monday, NSW Premier Chris Minns announced local councils would gain powers to shut unauthorised prayer halls and issue cease‑use notices to stop unlawful venues.
- After the Bondi massacre, Canterbury‑Bankstown Council closed the Al Madina Dawah Centre in December for lacking approval and links to preacher Wissam Haddad.
- The reforms raise penalties with fines up to $110,000 for individuals and $220,000 for corporations and require local councils to consult NSW Police on community safety before planning approval.
- Acting opposition leader Natalie Ward warned councils face an extra burden without intelligence access, saying, 'Councils deal with rates, rubbish, stray dogs and apparently now terrorism'.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese plans to recall federal parliament before Australia Day to introduce federal hate speech laws, as NSW courts found three Haddad sermons "devastatingly offensive".
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16 Articles
New South Wales Moves to Shut Down Illegal Religious Centres Promoting Hate
New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns has announced his government will introduce new laws giving local councils the power to shut down illegal religious centres, aiming to deny preachers a platform for hate speech. That will be achieved by cutting off utilities to any place of public worship operating without planning approval. Councils will have the support of police and the state’s Planning Department when required and will also be able t…
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left7Leaning Right3Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Left
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Left
64% Left
L 64%
R 27%
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