Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024

Ms SPENDER (Wentworth) (20:20): I want to make some remarks in relation to the comments from the minister. While I appreciate those words and I accept and support where this bill is going—and I think it is a significant improvement—I point out that WA does have criminal laws against hate speech. So to say that these are the strongest laws in the country is not true.

There are stronger laws— Mr Burke interjecting— Ms SPENDER: 'For the country'—sure—but not within the country. They are in WA, and they have been tested in WA. Someone was convicted by a jury and jailed for three years for hate speech.

It was an antisemitic attack. But the law has also been tested in the other way in the sense that, when there was a mildly offensive remark, it wasn't invoked. So I think that the law shows that it's possible to walk an appropriate line, and that is part of why I feel such disappointment.

There are precedents here that the country could have moved on that it hasn't. Finally, I acknowledge your point that this does affect many communities in the country. As I said earlier, this is the best and most diverse country on earth, and I think we need to protect it.

I have a question to the government, which is: is this something you will consider in the future, something you're willing to have a continuing conversation in relation to? Question unresolved. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: As the question is unresolved, in accordance with standing order 188 the question will be included in the Federation Chamber's report to the House.