Queensland Tightens Hate Speech Laws, Amid Controversy

0:00I'm Cory with the story, bringing you the latest from Adelaide News today. Queensland's government this week tightened hate speech laws by targeting just two phrases, it views as anti-Semitic, from the river to the sea, and globalize the Intifada. The changes came in a bill responding to the Bondi terror attack, also aimed at stopping criminals from getting guns. Officials promised no further bans without new legislation. Originally, the bill let the Attorney General ban any words during violence or offense. Legal experts, religious groups, and civil liberties advocates push back hard. On Monday, the government scaled it back after weeks of defense, saying it heard the concerns. Meanwhile, distractions piled up fast. The government accused the labor shadow minister of old anti-Semitic social media posts rushed out reports on immobility devices stripped the state. Library of award duties, dish to drug program, and push life sentences for metal thieves. Opposition called it a tactic to bury the real news. Parliament turned chaotic with ministers

1:03yelling anti-Semite across the chamber at the MP who denied it all. Labor's leader admitted the language was poor, but not hateful, blaming the deputy premiere for a personal hit job. The bill passed anyway after a late tweak. The Parliamentary Committee had urged passing it unchanged, but officials called the fix minor and responsive. Labor voted no, crying foul over rushed debate. ASIO's head recently noted how heated words can spark real violence, underscoring why tempers flared here. Special thanks to our sponsor for supporting this episode.