Queensland is the latest state to pass Jewish hate speech laws, and 2 people have already been arrested and one of those, Liam Parry, has been charged with the new laws.
This is an important issue for 2 key reasons. Firstly, because a foreign country, Israel, is rapidly trying to increase its influence over Australia and secondly, because Israel’s and the United States attack on Iran is having an impact on Australia and the public should be able to openly discuss the issue without the fear of being jailed.
The new laws are clearly designed to restrict criticism of Israel and the 2 phrases that have been banned blatantly infringe on the implied freedom of political communication in the Australian constitution as per the 1997 High Court of Australia precedent Lange v ABC.
And because the new laws infringe on the implied freedom of political communication they will be deemed null and void by the High Court of Australia if they aren’t by a lower court first.
Background to the new Queensland hate speech laws
The ABC reported on the 5/3/26:
The phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” have been outlawed in Queensland when used to menace or offend someone, under legislation passed in state parliament on Thursday.
Under the changes, it will be considered an offence to use the expressions in a way that makes a member of the public feel menaced, harassed or offended.
The new laws include both written and spoken use of phrases, such as chants or placards at a protest, with penalties of up to two years in prison.
The banned phrases had been deemed antisemitic by the state government. (Click here to read more)
There are defences to the new laws CRIMINAL CODE 1899 – SECT 52DA:
“the person engaged in the conduct that is alleged to constitute the offence for a genuine artistic, religious, educational, historical, legal or law enforcement purpose”
and “the person engaged in the conduct that is alleged to constitute the offence for a purpose that is in the public interest”
Example: “publication of a fair and accurate report of an event or matter of public interest” which would include the media reporting what happened.
Liam Parry’s charges and his defence
Liam Parry was arrested on Wednesday (11/3/26) for saying “from the river to the sea” outside the Queensland parliament house as per the below video.
The below video is excerpts from the speech Liam Parry gave which led to his was arrest as published on the Students for Palestine Instagram page.
The ABC reported (12/3/26):
Liam Parry is reportedly going to defend the charges “on the grounds the speech was educational and in the public interest”
and:
Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg said it was “heartening” to see police enforcing the new hate speech laws, and that he disagreed with the explanation of the phrase in Mr Parry’s speech.
He said the phrase “From the river to the sea” had been used to “intimidate kids and intimidate Jewish people in workplaces and on the streets”.
“The Jews will be exterminated. That is what that statement means,” he said. (Click here to read more)
I wonder what Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg thinks about Israel currently trying to “exterminate” the people in Iran, Jordan, and as confirmed by the United Nations, committing Genocide and war crimes in Gaza?
What will the High Court of Australia say?
While Liam Parry is going to defend the charges using 2 defences outlined in the new laws, that what he said was educational and in the public interest, if he wins the new laws will still be in force.
So, it would be good if Liam Parry also used the “Lange v ABC” defence that the new laws are invalid because they infringe on the implied freedom of political communication in the Australian constitution. If Liam Parry wins his case using that argument, then the new laws are no longer valid.
You would think that what is happening overseas has nothing to do with political communication in Australia so it would not be protected by the implied freedom of political communication in the Australian constitution.
But the High Court of Australia in Lange v ABC effectively found that discussion of the conduct of politicians, even foreign ones like New Zealand’s David Lange, can fall within the scope of matters protected by the implied freedom of political communication, at least to the extent that such discussion qualifies as “government or political matters” relevant to Australia.
Israel and Australian Zionist Jews, with the help of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have shot themselves in the foot by forcing Albanese to invite Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Australia to comfort Australian Jews after the Bondi shootings.
Apparently Australian politicians were not good enough to comfort Australian Jews and they needed the leader of Israel to comfort them.
Not only that, Australia was the first country in the world to publicly support Israel’s and the USA’s attack on Iran.
That says the relationship and political connection between Australia and Israel is very strong, close and therefore discussing the relationship between Australia and Israel, and their politicians, is political communication relevant to informing electors.
A key issue on social media at the moment is whether or not Israel has too much influence over Australian politicians and so political terms such as “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” should be protected so voters can discuss all issues openly without fear of being jailed.
One last point, the full saying is: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” yet the new law only makes it illegal to say the first part, “From the river to the sea”.
Why? Because the end part, “Palestine will be free” makes it very clear it is a political slogan, not an antisemitic slogan.
With the Iran war, almost every country in the world is re-evaluating their relationships with Israel and the USA and we should be having open discussions about all matters relevant to those relationships.
Queensland is the only Australian state to have banned “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” which is very telling.
Other states were obviously lobbied by Israel and Australian Zionist Jews to ban the same phrases, but they chose not to which is likely because of legal advice they didn’t have the power to do it.
Spending time and money trying to jail innocent people to keep Israel happy is not in Australia’s interest.
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Categories: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
I am highly offended that our Queensland government is enacting silencing laws on us, on behalf of a rogue, foreign state. But I’m not Zionist, so my feelings don’t matter.
It’s laughable, that our governments have ignored all kinds of offensive phrases used in homophobia, racism, anti-women etc. but are quick to support a foreign, rogue state, committing genocide and other monstrous crimes. It’s impossible to take these governments seriously!
1. We need politicians in modern day Australia who are atheists. The bulk of Australians have NO religion, and we’re all better people, as a rule, because of it.
2. WHAT is the hold that Netanyahu has on Albanese and his Labor Party.
3. Do our governments not realise that the more they ban free speech, the greater the outcry?
4. People aren’t against Judaist Jews. We are against Zionist Jews because it is a political party. They are the genocide culprits.
5. Netanyahu isn’t even a Semite as are the bulk of Zionists so I’ve read. The Aranbs are the Semites. So all this crap about antisemitism is pure manipulation!
The word anti-semitism has been hijacked by the Zionists for their own purposes. It’s technical meaning no longer seems to matter. People like Netanyahu, who are of European extraction, use the word as cover.
Its technical meaning…
Netanyahu is from a Jewish family.Of course that makes him a Semite.
Alison. I couldn’t agree more. I sometimes feel like I’m living in an alternate universe. But I’m angry with the Australian people for being so gullible, so apathetic, so uncaring of other human beings that they continue to vote for these caricatures of human beings. We are to blame for this unholy mess.
If it’s any comfort, Jen, we do live in an alternate universe. Both Goethe and Voltaire amongst so many other luminaries declared that we live in a cosmic lunatic asylum. I first noticed it at the tender age of three, and it’s got progressively worse ever since. The wise Eckhart Tolle didn’t mince his words: “The greatest achievement of humanity is not its works of art, science or technology but the recognition of its own dysfunction, its own madness.” Only a small fraction of those present are capable of that recognition.
We are a miniature replica of America in many ways Jen. Albanese is just as obtuse as Trump methinks, if you look closely at how he has literally ruined the Labor Party. And the fact that names like Wong, Burke and Marles are all part of his ugly, misinformed group is astonishing. We ARE to blame I suppose, but I voted for Labor and expected better. Ive always loathed Albanese since Beazley’s time, but his cowardice and manipulation are now off the chart. I’m going further left now since Labor are virtually over the central line to the right!
I gave up wondering about Queenslanders when they elected the Hillbilly Dictator as Premier and kept him there so long. What’s alarming is that their mindset has been quietly infecting the rest of the country.
Israel is a state not a country.
It is dictating what can and cannot be said in Australia and that is wrong.
Freedom is Speech is for everyone, not just one.
Israel is a country,a sovereign state,as other countries are.Why are you saying it’s not? Sheer disinformation? Malice? Ignorance?
Because it’s a theocracy it’s another Iran. The human race is evolving beyond ignorance which is religion.
Liam Parry doesn’t know what he is talking about. How were Palestinians driven from their homes “never to return” when in 1948 Israel embraced ALL people living in their officially designated land of Israel, allowing Palestinians to build homes and are recognised as authentic citizens of Israel with all entitlements. Truth takes a hit at such rallies of ignorance, lies & disinformation..!!
Wikipedia says under the heading: Causes of the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight
“During the 1948 Palestine war surrounding Israel’s creation, over 700,000 Palestinian Arabs—about half of Mandatory Palestine’s Arab population—were expelled or fled from their homes in what is known as the Nakba (catastrophe). These events involved direct expulsions by Zionist paramilitaries, massacres, and the destruction of hundreds of villages.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_the_1948_Palestinian_expulsion_and_flight
Truth takes a hit from the Zionist hasbara. Tens of thousands of dead Gazans have been killed by the Zionists and the continued violence by illegal settlers against Palestinians is the ugly truth that Zionists don’t want the world to believe.
I don’t get it.
Australia’s total population is OVER 27.6MILLION people.
How is it that in Australia, a religious based population that represents roughly 0.5% of that number has so much influence and power? Effectively, 100000 voters affect Australia’s entire policy on Israel, free speech, social outrage and what is acceptable to be said in public.
Australians are outraged by what Israel is doing in Gaza. And the West Bank. And in Lebanon. (And now elsewhere). Just as we were all outraged by what occurred at Bondi last December.
“From the River, to the Sea” Hmmmm.
If I cannot say that, then neither can anyone with a Zionist bent, because it has just as much meaning in Judaism.
To the Jews, especially the Zionists, it means the land of Israel, stretching from the Jordan River all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. Free of Palestianians. And Christians. And the Bedouin, Druze, and any of the other Semitic peoples who have lived and farmed that land since before religion was a thing.
Then there is “Globalise the Intifada”. I can see why a zionist might get upset by having that shouted at them, or reading it on a placard in a protest of thousands of people. It is very specific, because it stems from two very specific events. Two UPRISINGS. Two acts of rebellion agaist repression that the Israeli military crushed without mercy. So now the people of Palestine would like their plight to be taken to the streets of the world. As it should be.
Just a thought, but in the circumstances, and so that the high costs of all of the legallities invloved are avoided, what if the statement is changed to “Globalise the Uprising”?
In thes current times, do we not all have something to protest about anyway? If we combine our resources, unite in our causes, come together in our fury and all say the same thing, whatever our languages, what are they going to do? Lock us all up?
I mean, it’s not like we are writing “No More Coal” in chalk on the back of a truck in Britain, or “Just stop Oil” in WA, or “No More Logging” in Tassie.
We are just voicing our concern about the state of Planet Earth.
To finish, All of these Hate Speech laws and whatever else that is enacted are supposed to be equal. I say it. He says it. They say it. Whatever.
Last Tuesday, March 10, a bloke burst into a Ramadan gathering in Ballarat in Victoria and hurled abuse at the diners. He was restrained by guests, the police attended and he was carted off. NO CHARGES WERE LAID.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-10/muslim-community-left-traumatised-after-attack-on-dinner/106431706.
On what planet is this fair, ballanced, and in any way socially cohesive?
I really like your ‘Globalise the Uprising’ Greg. Its so currently apt.
So do I. I’ll be using it. (Queenslander.)
“The phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada” have been outlawed in Queensland when used to menace or offend someone, under legislation passed in state parliament on Thursday.”
When used to menace or offend someone? I didn’t see any evidence either of the two pro-Palestinian protestors were intending to menace or offend anyone. They were voicing their support for a Palestinian state.
How can this law be valid in these two cases? I hope they get support to take the appeals as far as necessary.
In passing these new “hate speech” laws, the government ignored that we helped the US draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On of the articles state:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
These laws tear this document up.
Imagine watching your friend in a crowd of 1,000 people singing Two Strong Hearts on stage only to get arrested because she didn’t know what the phrase “From the River to the Sea” actually meant.
my family lived for 5 years under nazi occupation in holland so the nazi flag was a abhorrent symbol for their entire lifetime. however to palestinians arabs lebanese, syrians ,iranians ,iraqies etc the israelie flag represents the same as a the nazi flag yet it is ok to openly display this flag that represents genocide! we need to have a serious rational discussion about this inequality but it is being swept under the table due to the power of the jewish lobby!
in addition the plight of the isis brides and their innocent children being prevented from returning to australia, i have met some australians that have returned to australia after taking part in the genocide in gaza with the IDF and they were openly boasting about the number of palestinians they had killed! but that is ok! so we let in known killers but refuse visas to returning children and tourists or new migrants that have committed serious crimes! seems to be double standards again due to the jewish lobbys influence here
Damn straight all 3 parties are all Zionist shills one nation, Liberal and Labour especially Pauline,Barnaby, James Patterson, Chris Mimms and a tonne more foreign interference is rife, they are supposed to be allies along with the USA but started an unprovoked war endangered Australians abroad caused fuel panic which will increase inflation amongst other things, then we send troops and members in so called defense when it is and always has been offense. Most Australian media and all 3 major parties are culpable in child death and genocide and another illegal war like Iraq just plain wrong and the 3 main parties except for some Nationals but they are gone to are all responsible for this suppression of speech which is just One way as always.
Great move by the Q’land government.
GTFROT….
Its errant nonsense
flow the river to the sea…..
SCARY AF
In a world where governments bend to foreign pressure and laws are weaponized to silence dissent, staying quiet is complicity. These phrases strike at the heart of injustice, exposing occupation, oppression, and the denial of basic human rights.
They are unflinching, uncompromising, and designed to provoke thought, spark outrage, and force the powerful to confront the consequences of their actions – all while remaining legally defensible and morally clear.
End the Occupation, End the Lies
Occupation Is a Crime Against Humanity
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied
Palestinian Blood Cannot Be Ignored
Silence Makes You Complicit
Freedom Cannot Be Barred
Walls Cannot Stop the Truth
Oppressors Will Be Exposed
Resistance Cannot Be Criminalized
The World Must See the Siege
Truth Over Tyranny
Rights Stolen Must Be Fought For
Oppression Will Meet Defiance
Power Cannot Silence Justice Forever
Genocide Cannot Hide Behind Flags
No Peace Without Freedom
Humanity Demands Action
Palestinian Voices Cannot Be Silenced
End the Siege, End the Silence
Justice Cannot Be Optional
Resistance Is a Moral Imperative
The Occupied Cannot Be Forgotten
Truth Will Outlive Tyranny
Oppression Dies When People Rise
We Will Not Bow to Injustice
Words are not just words – they are weapons against silence, injustice, and tyranny. Using these phrases is a refusal to bow to censorship, a demand that oppression be called out, and a declaration that truth cannot be buried.
Let them roar across streets, screens, and speeches, cutting through complacency, igniting awareness, and holding power accountable. These are more than slogans – they are the sharp edge of political truth.
Our federal and state leaders masquerade as champions of the people, yet they cower at the first hint of controversy. They trade principle for comfort, bow to foreign pressure, and hide behind hollow words while injustice runs rampant.
Their inaction and cowardice are a betrayal of the public trust – leaving ordinary citizens to fight the battles they refuse to face.
If leadership is strength, Australia’s politicians have made themselves irrelevant, powerless spectators to the very crises they are meant to solve.