Queensland Parliament Passes Hate Speech Laws, Bans Two Controversial Slogans

Melbourne, March 5: Queensland’s state parliament has passed new hate speech legislation banning the use of two controversial slogans under certain circumstances. The phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” will now be considered illegal if used in a way that causes members of the public to feel threatened, harassed or offended.

The legislation, passed on Thursday, applies to both written and spoken use of the phrases, including chants at protests or messages displayed on placards. Those found guilty of using the expressions in a menacing or offensive manner could face penalties of up to two years in prison. The state government has described the phrases as antisemitic.

The bill initially allowed the attorney-general to prohibit any expression that incited violence, harm or offence. However, the Crisafulli government made a last-minute amendment the night before parliament resumed, specifically naming only the two slogans in the legislation. As a result, any additional phrases would need to be banned through further parliamentary approval.

The Labor opposition voted against the bill. During the parliamentary debate, Police Minister Dan Purdie said the new laws were necessary to protect the community.

“Jewish Queenslanders simply do not feel safe. They do not feel protected,” he told parliament.

He added that the government was taking decisive action to ensure people could live free from hatred and violence.

“This government is committed to ensuring all Queenslanders can live free from hate and violence,” Mr Purdie said, adding that the decision to prohibit the expressions had not been taken lightly.

The new laws also include restrictions on certain symbols and create offences for intimidation at places of worship. Those offences carry penalties of up to seven years in prison.

Changes to Gun Laws

The legislation also introduces significant changes to firearm regulations as part of the Queensland government’s broader response to the Bondi terror attack in December.

Mr Purdie said the bill includes “nation-leading penalties for firearms misuse” and a range of measures designed to improve community safety. Under the new rules, people applying for a gun licence must be Australian citizens.

The reforms also strengthen penalties for offences such as firearm theft and trafficking, and introduce new offences for drive-by shootings, particularly targeting places of worship.

However, Queensland will not participate in the national gun buyback scheme introduced by the Commonwealth government following the Bondi attack.

Opposition Criticism

During the debate, shadow police minister Glenn Butcher criticised the bill, saying it went too far in restricting freedom of speech while failing to adequately address gun reform.

“The consultation for this bill was an absolute sham, and amendments have been introduced at the last minute,” he told parliament.

The Labor opposition said they only saw the amendments specifying the two slogans on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Butcher also said the opposition leader had written to the government in December offering bipartisan support for legislation responding to the Bondi Beach terror attack, but that offer had been rejected.

“We believe in freedom of speech, we believe in gun reform laws, and we believe more work needs to be done to strengthen vilification and hate speech laws in this parliament,” he said.

Community Responses

In its submission on the bill, the Islamic Council of Queensland said the legislation could pose a threat to civil liberties and political expression. The council argued that the phrases were understood by many in their community not as calls for violence but as expressions demanding justice, democracy and equal rights for all people in the Holy Land.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies said the slogans had been used in incidents intended to intimidate Jewish individuals. The organisation argued that it was essential to address the use of language promoting hatred or violence against Jewish communities through appropriate legal measures.

Explanation: What Does “Globalise the Intifada” Mean?

“Globalise the Intifada” is a slogan sometimes used by pro-Palestinian activists. It is often interpreted as a call to expand resistance against Israel and its supporters globally.

The word intifada comes from Arabic and broadly means uprising or shaking off oppression. Historically, the term has been associated with Palestinian uprisings against Israeli rule. Because earlier intifadas included violent confrontations, the slogan is often understood by some people as encouraging violence against Israelis, Jewish communities or institutions supporting Israel.

However, some activists argue the phrase represents political resistance and advocacy for Palestinian rights rather than violence. Despite differing interpretations, the slogan remains highly controversial and deeply sensitive for many Jewish communities.