Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has said in a letter that the new hate speech laws do not restrict criticism of foreign countries or political ideologies which would cover criticism of Israel and Zionism.
This is an important because it clears up some of the confusion and misreporting of the new hate speech laws with most of the confusion because of the government’s lack of a clear explanation of how the hate speech laws work and what they cover.
The SMH reported (28/1/26):
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has advised the Australian National Imams Council, the leading body representing Muslim religious leaders, that new hate laws will not prevent criticism of foreign countries or political ideologies despite concerns the laws could silence debate.
In a letter seen exclusively by this masthead and co-signed by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Rowland told ANIC president Imam Shadi Alsuleiman that the legislation would not “prevent legitimate, non-violent criticism of the actions of a foreign country or of particular political ideologies”. (Click here to read more)
That is consistent with what I said in last week’s article titled “Australia’s new hate speech laws and what they mean for social media users” but many journalists and/or commentators reported that the new hate speech laws infringed on individuals rights when they are only targeted towards groups.
But the letter by Attorney-General Michelle Rowland and co-signed by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke goes one step further and says even groups can criticise foreign countries and/or political ideologies which overrides the wrong information Attorney-General Michelle Rowland gave last week as per the below video.
The below video is Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong on Nine (21/1/26) and the Attorney-General Michelle Rowland (20/1/26) on the ABC’s 7.30 Report. (It was published on the Kangaroo Court of Australia YouTube channel on the 21/1/26.)
As I previously said, “The bottom line is the new hate speech laws only impact on groups, organisations and their members.”
The Labor government also wanted to legislate new racial vilification offences which would have greatly restricted free speech and political communication but they couldn’t legislate it because they had no support from the other political parties in the Senate.
Two people have been charged in recent days with speech crimes and with at least one possibly facing charges under the new laws.
Brandan Koschel has been refused bail for alleged hate speech at the March for Australia rally on Monday (26/1/26) after he used the open mic at the end of the rally to blame Jews for numerous problems. (Click here to read more)
If Koschel had criticised Israel or Zionists he would be fine but he decided to criticise Jews and his chances of beating the charge are not good given everything he said is on video.
And Theo Nolan-Isles was charged with “using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend and encourage the commission of crimes” after posting on “X”:
I hereby pledge that: No person who after this date intentionally causes physical pain to any politician who voted Aye to the passage of the “Combatting Antisemitism” hate speech bill will pay for beer while in my informed presence. Please join me in this pledge. (Click here to see on “X”)
Theo Nolan-Isles was clearly making a joke and he should have received a warning from the police at most. He is still in jail after being refused bail.
With Prime Minister Anthony Albanese receiving numerous threats, including death threats, in recent months and other politicians receiving threats of violence it is best to not even joke about harming politicians in any way, or harming anyone for that matter.
It’s ironic that the major driver for the new hate speech laws, and the failed racial vilification offences, are Israeli supporting Zionists in Australia and they are currently complaining all over social media because Australia has cancelled the visa of, Sammy Yahood, a Jewish / Israeli influencer who previously called for Islam to be banned.
If anyone called for the Jewish religion Judaism to be banned there would be complaints left, right and centre but the Zionists want to bring Sammy Yahood into Australia knowing he will cause trouble.
The problem for the Zionists and Sammy Yahood is he’s on video on social media ranting like a nutter which doesn’t help their cause, but it does help justify Australia cancelling Sammy Yahood’s visa.
The original hate speech laws, which included the withdrawn racial vilification laws, were at least partially driven to stop Australians criticising Israel and the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza but they failed.
But Australia’s free speech and political communication is under attack and aligned with the Palestinians, whether we like it or not, because both are under attack from Zionists who support Israel.
With that in mind I have organised an online protest for next Wednesday (4/2/26) called “Take a picture with a watermelon day” in support of Palestine and to protest against laws, current and future, that restrict free speech and political communication in Australia.
Online campaign – It’s simple, take a picture of yourself with or eating a watermelon and post it on social media and tag the Prime Minister and politicians. And share other people’s posted watermelon pictures so we blast social media with the pictures. I will be posting on X, Threads, Facebook and BlueSky but please post on other social media sites as well.
Date: Wednesday the 4th of February – Australian federal parliament is sitting from the 3rd to the 5th of February and by having it on the 4th it gives us a sitting day (Tuesday the 3rd) to help promote it.
The background of why a watermelon:
The association between watermelons and Palestinians stems from the fruit’s colors closely matching those of the Palestinian flag.
This connection turned the watermelon into a powerful symbol of resistance and solidarity, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories.
For more details and a poster to share on social media to help promote the day click here.
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Categories: Michelle Rowland, Tony Burke
Anything “they” say is a lie. When “they” say you can’t say X it’s not true – they need your CONSENT to agree to their statutes (and most people unknowingly give it to them). Research lawful vs legal. When “they” say you CAN now say X that’s a lie too, because they are just trying to evade public anger because people have had enough of their crap and criminality, “they” will use those statutes against you at the earliest opportunity if you allow it.
“They” rely on your fear. Don’t fear them, they fear us. I don’t care what unlawful statutes they create… I will say whatever I want to because my words and the truth does not harm anyone, especially innocent people. It only outs criminals and evil people doing evil things. That’s not a crime – that’s exposing a crime.
History repeats. They always intimidate the people into silence, submission, and servitude. Don’t fear. It’s time to rise up and out/oust those criminals using law and lore. Start screaming…
I would not be surprised if the zionist lobby group walked into the A/G’s office with a wad of papers and said, “Here, this is what we demand you make into a law”.
Agree, but Sussan Ley brought all this on herself by Virtue Signaling and Grandstanding non stop for a month about something the average Australian isn’t interested in.
Albanese wasn’t gonna do anything at first, so he gave Ley everything she wanted and then some, now Ley is losing her job and the Liberal Party’s future looks bleak.
Ya gotta larf …
‘…the legislation would not “prevent legitimate, non-violent criticism of the actions of a foreign country or of particular political ideologies”.’ Hmmm, I wonder who determines whether the criticism is legitimate or not?
If the Attorney-General’s letter is to mean anything in practice, Australians are entitled to clear, plain-English guidance – not guesswork – about what the January 2026 hate speech laws actually cover.
So let me put this plainly and invite confirmation rather than confusion.
Am I now to understand that under Australia’s federal hate / anti-extremism laws the following are not protected groups:
• Israel (a state)
• The IDF (a military organisation)
• Zionism (a political ideology)
• The Israeli government (any government)
• Political institutions and political movements
If that understanding is correct – as the Attorney-General’s own letter suggests – then political criticism of these entities is lawful, even when it is strong, confronting, or morally uncompromising.
So, to test this hate speech law, would that mean that statements such as:
“Israel is committing crimes”
“Zionism is a racist ideology”
“The IDF operates like a criminal organisation”
are indeed legal political opinions about a state, an ideology, a military, and a government – and not attacks on Jewish people as an ethnic or religious group?
Criticising power, institutions, and ideologies is not hate speech. Targeting people because of who they are is. If this distinction is indeed the law – and the Attorney-General says it is – then the government owes Australians a clear, public, authoritative explainer. Criminal law should not rely on media spin, ministerial backtracking, or after-the-fact clarification.
Until then, perhaps the Attorney-General’s Department could do the obvious and publish
“Hate Speech for Dummies”
because at the moment, Australians are being asked to navigate criminal law with a blindfold on.
This bill is specifically to be used for outlawing other political parties. That is why the duo party both voted for it. Labour had the numbers to pass it through parliment without the liberals.
Sounds likely.
Nationalist Parties in particular.
I’d say Pauline Hanson will be alright, if any of her Senators or MPs oversteps, she’ll just sack him, like she did all the other times.
Mark Latham, it wasn’t even H8 Speech, he was just insufficiently Woke.
I seriously doubt that Wong,Rowland & Burke have thouroughly read & understood this complex legislation & as such their guarantees are worthless. This legislation will be a lawyers’ picnic & a means to punish dissenters through the process itself,regardless of the final outcome.
Denying Bail is a bit of a worry.
Even accused murderers committed for trial can get Bailed these days.
Shane , have you seen the cost of watermellon lately @ $2.50 per kilo ?
Bibi Netanyahoo said that any Jew on this planet can’t complain about Israel gets up to so what of anyone else non Jewish having a rant ?