Coalition of faith leaders writes to Albanese with ‘serious concern’ over hate speech bill
A coalition of faith groups, including the bishop of south Sydney’s Anglican diocese, the head of the Australian National Imams Council and the archbishop of Sydney’s Catholic archdiocese, just issued a letter sent to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, expressing “serious concern” over the hate speech bill to be debated in parliament next week.
In the joint letter sent to Albanese, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, and the attorney general, Michelle Rowland, the group said while it remains committed to tackling antisemitism and racial and religious hatred the bill, as written, may have “(perhaps unintended) adverse implications for religious freedom and freedom of expression” as well as providing “inadequate consultation and review”.
The letter, in part, reads:
Faith communities, legal experts, and civil society organisations have not been afforded a reasonable amount of time to properly study the legislation, assess its legal and constitutional implications, or prepare constructive and well-considered submissions for what has been described as the ‘most consequential change’ to Australia’s counterterrorism laws since 9/11.
Legislation of this breadth and sensitivity requires careful deliberation and meaningful consultation. A rushed legislative process of this nature undermines confidence, increases the risk of unintended consequences, and does not assist community unity or social cohesion.
The group said it stands ready to work with the Albanese government to “improve the bill”, asking for the prime minister to delay its introduction.
We offer these views in a constructive spirit and stand ready to engage further with all parties to develop appropriate amendments to ensure an appropriate legislative response to hatred and extremism.
Key events
Only one injury reported in flood zone, commissioner says
Wiebusch said a child was airlifted out the flood zone and taken to hospital.
We’ve been fortunate there’s only one injury reported – a young child air-lifted out of the flash flood zone and they’ve been taken to hospital. Otherwise, at this stage, we’ve been fortunate with very minor injuries and importantly, Victoria police are saying there are no missing persons…
During the flash floods we know there were a number of people who had to quickly relocate from caravans, tents and campgrounds. We understand the water came up quickly.
Commissioner says flash flooding warnings were adequate ‘at that point in time’
Wiebusch said that the warning were adequate:
I guess it’s always one of those challenging things. We do believe that the warnings were adequate for what was needed at that point in time. They were as timely as can be when you have that dynamic situation that thunderstorms bring.
More details on flash flooding along Wye River
Diana Eadie, a meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology appeared at the press conference alongside Wiebusch. She spoke about the flash flooding at Wye River on the coast on Thursday, which displaced hundreds of people and destroyed a number of cars.
Eadie said the amount of rain that fell in the short period of time was an “extraordinary” event:
The warnings that were issued were the initial severe thunderstorm warning for that risk of heavy rainfall issued at 11:57am and included the potential for flash flooding.
That was escalated as we started to see increased rainfall rates and amended accordingly to include that potential for intense rainfall and life threatening flash flooding at 12:40pm.
Wiebusch said triple zero received the first call about the event at 1.20pm, which was about cars being washed away.
Jordyn Beazley
Hi there, I’ll now be with you until this evening.
Nick Visser
That’s all from me, Jordyn Beazley will take things from here. Have a lovely weekend.
Wiebusch added:
We’re still very early in our summer season and the risk of fires, flash flooding, storms will be with us for many more weeks yet as we go through the coming months.
We need the community to remain alert to their conditions.
Heightened fire danger returning to Victoria next week
The Bureau of Meteorology just said Victoria should expect to see heightened fire danger return next week on Friday and Saturday, 23 and 24 January.
More than 1,000 structures, including 289 homes, destroyed in Victoria fires
There are still 10 major fires in Victoria, prompting 8 watch and act and 16 advice-level warnings, officials said during a press conference.
More than 1,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in those blazes, including at least 289 homes. Many of those homes are in the Longwood fire area, where 213 homes have been lost. That number is up from 173 yesterday.
“Our thoughts continue to be with those communities that have been so heavily impacted by these fires,” Tim Wiebusch, Victoria’s emergency management commissioner, said.
Lifesaving clubs in flood-hit areas along Great Ocean Road go above and beyond to help displaced residents
Life Saving Victoria said lifeguards and volunteers at lifesaving clubs along the Victorian coasts, part of which was hit hard by flash flooding on Thursday, have gone above and beyond to help those in their community over the last 24 hours.
At Wye River, lifeguards opened the Wye River Surf Life Saving Club’s doors to provide overnight refuge for families, offered up their facilities to be a base for Ambulance Victoria and helped distribute food to impacted members of the community.
In Lorne, the SLSC also provided refuge to more than 100 people, and the Kennett River SLSC also opened its doors.
Cath Greaves, the CEO of Life Saving Victoria, said the acts represented the role of the clubs as “trusted community hubs, and their rapid response during this event is a powerful reminder of their value beyond the shoreline”.
Community supports imam after house damaged by fire
A community is rallying around an Islamic leader and his family after their home was severely damaged in a fire, AAP reports.
More than $60,000 has been raised in one day for Imam Shaikh Moulana Abdul Salik after his family home at Bald Hills in Brisbane’s north burned on Wednesday.
Police believe the fire was not suspicious and the mosque has acknowledged the “unfortunate accident”.
The GoFundMe’s organiser closed new donations on Friday after its $50,000 target was reached, thanking the community for their kindness and gracious efforts to support the family.
The incident has been “distressing and traumatic” for the imam of the Masjid Taqwa mosque and his family, the Council of Imams Queensland said.
“While we are profoundly grateful that no lives were lost and that the family is physically safe, the emotional and practical impact of this incident has been substantial,” the council president, Akram Buksh, said in a statement.
Allow Facebook content?
This article includes content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Coalition of faith leaders writes to Albanese with ‘serious concern’ over hate speech bill
A coalition of faith groups, including the bishop of south Sydney’s Anglican diocese, the head of the Australian National Imams Council and the archbishop of Sydney’s Catholic archdiocese, just issued a letter sent to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, expressing “serious concern” over the hate speech bill to be debated in parliament next week.
In the joint letter sent to Albanese, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, and the attorney general, Michelle Rowland, the group said while it remains committed to tackling antisemitism and racial and religious hatred the bill, as written, may have “(perhaps unintended) adverse implications for religious freedom and freedom of expression” as well as providing “inadequate consultation and review”.
The letter, in part, reads:
Faith communities, legal experts, and civil society organisations have not been afforded a reasonable amount of time to properly study the legislation, assess its legal and constitutional implications, or prepare constructive and well-considered submissions for what has been described as the ‘most consequential change’ to Australia’s counterterrorism laws since 9/11.
Legislation of this breadth and sensitivity requires careful deliberation and meaningful consultation. A rushed legislative process of this nature undermines confidence, increases the risk of unintended consequences, and does not assist community unity or social cohesion.
The group said it stands ready to work with the Albanese government to “improve the bill”, asking for the prime minister to delay its introduction.
We offer these views in a constructive spirit and stand ready to engage further with all parties to develop appropriate amendments to ensure an appropriate legislative response to hatred and extremism.
Krishani Dhanji
Could Labor’s hate speech laws damage Australia’s free speech? Here’s what you need to know about the contentious bill
Labor’s hate speech bill has alarmed free speech advocates, who say it could have unintended consequences because it was rushed through without enough consultation.
Labor says the bill, which will criminalise hate speech, create a new “hate group” listing, establish a gun buyback and create new grounds to reject or cancel visas, will strengthen national security and national unity.
But the pathway through parliament looks increasingly difficult, with the Liberals calling the bill “pretty unsalvageable” and the Greens warning they would not pass it “in its current form”. Labor would need either party to pass it through the Senate.
Read more:
See how Victoria’s bushfires spread: a visual guide to the scale of devastation
Victoria has been battered by some of the most destructive bushfires in its history, with blazes tearing through 400,000 hectares across the state and claiming the life of a cattle farmer, Maxwell Hobson. Almost 900 buildings have been destroyed, including more than 250 homes, and more than 15,000 livestock have been killed, along with countless wildlife.
Both authorities and firefighters on the ground have reported the fires were unlike anything seen before in their speed, scale and destruction. They also came much earlier than the traditional bushfire season, which typically peaks in February.
Take a look at how the fires spread in this visual guide.
Al Madina Dawah centre fined after allegedly defying cease use order
The Canterbury Bankstown Council has fined a prayer hall frequented by a controversial cleric after it allegedly defied an order to shut down on the 22nd December.
On Wednesday, the Al Madina Dawah centre in Bankstown – associated with the controversial cleric Wisam Haddad – announced it had permanently closed.
But the council, in a statement sent on Friday, has said the prayer hall was today issued a penalty infringement notice for not closing on the 22nd December when it was issued an immediate “cease use” letter.
A council spokesperson said:
Council has been conducting surveillance of the premises, and it is quite clear there is still unauthorised use.
The council could not confirm if that use had ceased since the prayer hall announced its closure on Wednesday.
The council said in a statement:
Council will continue to monitor the centre and may seek further legal action to ensure they cease the unauthorised use.
More on this story here:
Tory Shepherd
MEAA defends cartoonist Cathy Wilcox against ‘relentless, unfounded and coordinated’ attacks
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) says attacks on much-loved Nine newspapers cartoonist Cathy Wilcox are “relentless, unfounded and coordinated”.
Wilcox’s cartoon, called “grass roots”, looks at the multiple letters sent to multiple media outlets calling for a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack.
Sportspeople, heads of business, legal experts, Labor figures, and more signed up in bulk to the published letters.
Wilcox depicted such groups being held aloft on a strip of green turf by other cheerleaders for a commission, including Rupert Murdoch, Sussan Ley and David Littleproud, with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, beating a drum off to the side.
The Australian published multiple articles attacking the cartoon, saying it “depicted those calling for a royal commission into anti-semitism as unwitting puppets manipulated by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu through Coalition politicians”.
Nine management apologised for any hurt caused by the cartoon, but not for the cartoon itself, which remains online.
Today, MEAA members have condemned “the vicious and specious attacks” on Wilcox and called on Nine Entertainment to stand by its charter of editorial independence and support staff.
They said in a statement that Wilcox was one of the best cartoonists that Australia has ever produced and that her employers had “failed in their duty of care by apologising for her work”. They also said:
The relentless, unfounded and coordinated attacks on Wilcox follow similar campaigns to silence journalists, artists and entertainers who have been critical of the Israeli Government and its supporters since 2023 at the ABC, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Theatre Company, and elsewhere.
This trend is beyond concerning. It is a threat to democracy. As the government now looks to further limit free speech through new hate speech laws, and seeks to regulate publicly funded broadcasters and arts institutions by implementing the special envoy’s plan to combat antisemitism, MEAA members demand the principles of press freedom, and freedom of speech.
