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Australia announces tougher hate speech laws following Bondi massacre | World News
Australia has announced tougher laws on hate speech in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, are suspected of opening fire on crowds of more than 1,000 people as they celebrated Hanukkah in the Archer Park area of Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 offences over the attack that killed 15 people in the nation’s worst massacre in almost three decades.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Krissy Barrett also confirmed further searches would take place in the coming days.
The proposed measures include increased penalties for promoting violence, the creation of a new aggravated hate-speech offence for preachers and leaders who promote violence, and the development of a regime to list organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech that promotes violence or racial hatred.
Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene, while two police officers were also non-fatally wounded during an exchange of gunfire.
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The first funerals of the Bondi Beach victims took place on Wednesday, including that of London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger.
On Thursday, hundreds of mourners bearing bright bouquets gathered in Sydney for the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda, who was enjoying a petting zoo at the festivities on Sunday just before she was gunned down.
People add to a floral tribute outside Bondi Pavilion on 18 December Pic: AP
Ms Barrett said at a press conference on Thursday the New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team would execute further search warrants to support the investigation.
“There is a lot of material to be examined, and the AFP continues to work with both domestic and international partners to build a more complete picture of the movements and who the alleged offenders had contact with, both in Australia and offshore,” she said.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese announced his government would work on a series of legislative reforms in a bid to clamp down on those who “spread hate, division and radicalisation”, adding there was “no place in Australia for antisemitism”.
“We have seen a series of appalling attacks targeting Australia’s Jewish community,” he said.
“That culminated, on Sunday, in one of the worst acts of mass murder that this country has ever seen.”
“It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge, much more,” Mr Albanese added.
Ms Barrett also confirmed the Australian Federal Police would continue to investigate “hate preachers”.
Family carry the coffin following a service for Bondi Beach mass shooting victim 10-year-old Matilda, on 18 December: Pic: AP
It comes after Mr Albanese vowed to introduce tougher gun-control measures following the attack.
Naveed Akram remains under armed guard in hospital, having emerged from his coma on Tuesday afternoon.
Along with the murders, he is accused of 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, discharging a firearm intending to cause grievous bodily harm, a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol and placing an explosive in/near a building with the intent to cause harm.
Mr Albanese said a special 12-month taskforce would be set up, and the nation’s home affairs minister would be granted new powers to cancel or refuse visas for people who spread hate and division in Australia, or who would do so if permitted to enter the country.
NSW Health confirmed 16 people were still receiving care in the wake of the attack on Thursday afternoon local time.
Two people are still in a critical condition, while three people have been listed as “critical but stable”.
