It is the "toughest laws Australians ever had," said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke
The Australian Senate has passed a new "controversial" law that will imprison people found guilty of some terrorism offenses or displaying "terror symbols," with critics fearing that the legislation will disproportionately harm marginalized people in the country.
Individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses, financing terrorism, or displaying terror symbols will face mandatory prison sentences under new legislation passed on Thursday by both the Labour and opposition parties.
Critics argue that the law may unfairly impact Australia's marginalized communities while also being inconsistent with Australian tradition, according to SBS News.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie criticized the legislation, arguing that allowing politicians to determine punishments in any given case is extremely risky.
The "toughest laws Australians ever had," coined by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, specify a one-year mandatory sentence for showing Nazi or terrorist symbols, three years for terrorism financing, and six years for other terrorism-related crimes, the broadcaster reported.
The law comes amid the rise of cases of antisemitism in Australia.
This new law's stance on mandatory jail time also contradicts Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor Party platform, which states that minimum sentencing is "discriminatory in practice."
"We want people who are engaged in antisemitic activities to be caught, to be charged, and put in the clink. That's my priority," Albanese was quoted as saying by SBS while defending the law.
Separately, the Israeli Foreign Ministry praised Australia on the legislation, stating that “no Jew in Australia, or anywhere in the world, should have to live in fear,” according to the media outlet.
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt announ...
Cameroon's security forces killed 48 civilians while responding to protests against the re-election of President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitti...
South Korea's intelligence agency believes there is a strong possibility that North Korea and the United States will hold a summit, with the meeting p...
Mexico has expressed regret over Peru’s decision to sever diplomatic relations after the Mexican government granted asylum to former Peruvian Prime ...
Brussels Airport is closed after the reported sighting of a drone, said the Belgian air traffic control service and a spokeswoman for the airport....
Australia will provide households, including renters and those without solar panels, with at least three hours of free solar power daily under a new government scheme starting in 2026.
Australia police said on Tuesday two people were killed in an explosion at an underground mine in the far west region of the state of New South Wales.
China on Monday sought to keep ties with Australia on an even keel despite tensions over military encounters in the South China Sea this year and broader rivalry in the Asia-Pacific region.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 21 October, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russia said on Monday that its troops had advanced in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub that they have been trying to capture for over a year, but Ukraine said its forces were holding on.
At least 37 people have died and five are missing after devastating floods and landslides hit central Vietnam, officials said Monday, as a new typhoon threatens to worsen the disaster.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not believe the United States is going to war with Venezuela despite growing tensions, though he suggested President Nicolás Maduro’s time in power may be nearing its end.
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan vowed on Monday to move on from deadly protests set off by last week's disputed election as she was sworn into office for her first elected term.
The eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk has emerged as a critical point in Russia’s campaign to seize the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk, and its fate could shape the course of the conflict in the region.
Brussels Airport is closed after the reported sighting of a drone, said the Belgian air traffic control service and a spokeswoman for the airport on Tuesday (November 4)
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday during a press briefing.
Cameroon's security forces killed 48 civilians while responding to protests against the re-election of President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitting leader, according to data shared with Reuters on Tuesday by two U.N. sources.
South Korea's intelligence agency believes there is a strong possibility that North Korea and the United States will hold a summit, with the meeting potentially taking place after March, a lawmaker has said.
Mexico has expressed regret over Peru’s decision to sever diplomatic relations after the Mexican government granted asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chavez.
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