US EditionPM puts ball back in opposition's court on hate reforms
Prime Minister Albanese split the bill after Greens opposed hate speech laws, ensuring gun reforms proceed with parliamentary support amid national security concerns.
- On Saturday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he would split the omnibus bill, removing racial vilification provisions that lacked support in Federal Parliament.
- After the Greens declared on Saturday they would not support the hate speech proposals, opponents argued the measures risked curbing free speech and lacked Senate support.
- The government will focus on gun reforms while the hate‑crimes bill tightens powers against organised hate groups, prioritising a national gun buy‑back scheme barring non‑citizens and using ASIO checks.
- Parliamentarians have been called back to debate the split bills on Tuesday, with a Monday condolence motion for victims of the December 14 massacre; The Coalition criticised the reversal.
- Analysts said Mr Albanese's move was a political backdown after the royal commission episode, but the government said it aimed to secure The Greens' support and project harmony after the Bondi terror attack.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Liberal Catherine Deves warns of Teal-Green effect on out Albo's gun and speech control Bills
FORMER Liberal candidate and Sydney lawyer Catherine Deves, is under no illusions about Albanese’s so-called “backdown” on the hate speech and gun control legislation trumpeted by The Australian. Albanese, rather than backing down, has simply taken one step backwards by splitting the Bill into two and passing an even worse hate speech bill amended by […] The post Liberal Catherine Deves warns of Teal-Green effect on out Albo’s gun and speech con…
Australia’s proposed “hate crime” bill is not only an attack on free speech; it opens the door to belief-based punishment
“Everybody needs to stand against this. The Australian government is rushing through a new ‘hate-crime’ bill which criminalises association rather than conduct and applies terrorism-law logic to political activism, protesters and online […] The post Australia’s proposed “hate crime” bill is not only an attack on free speech; it opens the door to belief-based punishment first appeared on The Expose.
Labor Splits Hate Speech From Gun Control Laws to Gain Greens’ Support
Sweeping hate speech reforms will be reworked to remove elements around racial vilification after support for the proposed changes collapsed. The federal government will also split the bill to allow gun reforms, supported by the Greens, to pass. The Labor government needs the support of the Greens to pass legislation through the Senate. Ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary sitting week to discuss the proposal, the Greens said they could not b…
Sydney Morning Herald
Albanese’s capitulation is embarrassing, but at least it avoids moment of national shame
Stripping out controversial anti-vilification laws from a sprawling bill to counter antisemitism represents the PM’s second backdown in 10 days.
Albanese splits hate speech and gun reform bill in two | Evening News Bulletin 17 January 2026
The PM says the hate speech and gun reform bill is to be split before it's introduced to the Parliament on Tuesday, Greenland's Indigenous population says it does not want to be colonised a second time, The Special Ks set to take the court together for the mens doubles at the Australian Open.
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