Our Letter on Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026

On 15 January 2026, LGB Alliance Australia lodged a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security inquiry (CASHEBILL26) into the exposure draft Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.

Our position is straightforward. We support targeted protections addressing antisemitism in the current environment. Recent events and a clear rise in antisemitic hostility justify a focused and proportionate response.

But we do not support extending this bill to additional groups at this time.

Australia already has strong state and federal laws that protect people’s safety, rights, and legal interests. Before government adds new categories to hate legislation, it must meet a clear evidence threshold showing existing frameworks are inadequate and that further regulation is necessary.

We are also concerned that broadly framed hate laws can undermine freedom of expression, including lawful political speech, debate, and dissent. These freedoms sit at the heart of a democratic society, and legislation must protect them explicitly.

We urged government to consult widely and hear from a full range of perspectives - including civil liberties organisations and free speech advocates, alongside affected communities. Laws of this kind must be precise, limited, and durable, because poorly conceived legislation is difficult to unwind and can cause long-term harm.

The LGB community’s own experience of legal reform shows why this matters. Progress came through careful, incremental change. Getting the language, intent, and scope right at the start protects everyone, including minorities, from unintended consequences later.

Our message to government is clear: keep the response narrowly focused on antisemitism, draft with precision, and defend free expression.