Melbourne – Human rights groups have slammed the Australian government’s new “hate speech” laws, saying they will have a “chilling effect” on those who support the Palestinian cause.Most recently, two activists were arrested and charged for chanting the slogan “From the river to the sea”, a phrase that, along with “Globalise the Intifada”, is now illegal in Australia’s northern state of Queensland.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listAnyone arrested under the new law is faced with a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.Rushed through the New South Wales federal parliament after an attack on a Jewish celebration in Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December, which killed 15 people, the new laws operate at both federal and state jurisdictions and specifically target speech considered anti-Semitic.Arif Hussein, senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre in the New South Wales capital, Sydney, told Al Jazeera the legislation could be used to suppress legitimate criticism of Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip.“There are serious concerns that the new laws could have a chilling effect on legitimate activism and protest and unfairly impact peaceful protest and speech regarding Israel’s actions in Palestine,” Hussein said.“While there is no place for anti-Semitism or racism in Australia, everyone has the right to criticise state conduct and hold public officials to account,” he said.The Bondi shooting was a rare incident of mass violence in Australia and prompted a royal commission of inquiry as well as the introduction of new legislation on hate speech and extremism, and a strengthening of gun ownership laws.The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Act was rushed through the New South Wales federal parliament in January and includes higher penaltie …
