The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), that represents Australia’s media and creative workers, has urged Parliament to reject and revise the proposed Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.
The union has warned that the legislation “undermines core principles of press freedom and freedom of artistic expression and poses a threat to our democracy.”
The proposed bill is wide-ranging to include new hate speech offences, strengthened gun control measures and immigration changes and comes in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
If passed, it will make it illegal to publicly incite racially charged hatred or violence, with a narrow defence for quoting religious texts. The legislation will also implement a system to designate hate groups and organisations as well as increased penalties for aggravated offences.
The gun control measures include a buyback scheme, stricter import rules and extended background checks. The bill merges a range of measures into a singular proposal, which has drawn criticism from a range of groups and opposition parties.
The MEAA has claimed that journalists and other creative professionals must be able to preserve their right to critique policies, governments and any ensuing actions, including those carried out in the name of religion, without fear of legal repercussion.
In a statement, the MEAA said:
“The proposal undermines core principles of press freedom and freedom of artistic expression and poses a threat to our democracy.
“Journalists, creative workers, and members of our society must be free to provide criticism and commentary on the policies and actions of their own or any other state, or the actions of those who do so in the name of any religion.
“We express our deepest condolences for and solidarity with the victims, families and communities impacted by the horrific terrorist attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.
“Stifling public conversation, reducing press freedom, and dampening creative expression is not a path to either healing or justice. Our democracy needs honesty, accountability, and robust debate in order to thrive. Speech prohibition laws should not be expanded; they should be confined. Journalists, artists, and creative workers need to be supported in telling stories and giving commentary without fear or favour.”
The government has faced criticism over the rushed nature of the proposed legislation. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security was given less than a week to examine the legislation and hold public hearings with the relevant agencies.
Other community groups, including the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), have noted concern over the short consultation period, potential overreach of criminal penalties, and that particular communities could be disproportionately affected by the bill. They have argued that those communities should have been actively involved in shaping the legislation rather than consulted as an afterthought.
