Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu may be an offence under Australia’s new hate speech laws, Greens warn

Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke say the laws are needed to protect Australians – particularly the Jewish community

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The Greens have warned Labor’s newly passed hate speech bill could criminalise reasonable expressions of contempt or ridicule by individuals and groups, and see critics of the government of Israel targeted for prosecution.

The Greens justice spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said rushed amendments – agreed between Labor and the Coalition in the wake of the Bondi terror attacks – represent an unprecedented expansion of political power to ban organisations and criminalise speech based on vague standards.