The Queensland government will make changes to the criminal code and increase jail terms for vilification as it cracks down on hate crimes after a series of “horrific” antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents.
The attorney general, Shannon Fentiman, announced on Monday that a bill would be introduced into Queensland parliament in March to amend existing offences.
“Unfortunately, we do need to strengthen Queensland’s hate laws,” Fentiman told reporters on Monday.
“We know that Queenslanders do not tolerate hatred and prejudice. And this is about ensuring that there is no place for those crimes.”
The government will seek to move serious vilification from the anti-discrimination act into the criminal code and introduce a circumstance of aggravation for when some existing offences are wholly or partly motivated by hatred. Circumstances of aggravation are factors surrounding an offence that make offenders liable to a greater punishment.
Fentiman said offences affected by the changes included going armed as to cause fear; threatening violence; assault occasioning bodily harm; wilful damage; stalking; harassment; and public nuisance.
The government has also suggested increasing the penalty for serious vilification from six months to three years, and removing the requirement for a prosecution to have the consent of crown law, in order to make vilification charges easier to pursue.
The attorney general said increasing the penalty for serious vilification would allow police to access warrants under the federal Telecommunications Act, boosting their ability to construct a case.
The announcement comes after Guardian Australia revealed last week that three men were charged with wilful damage in relation to the displaying of neo-Nazi material after police conducted raids on three separate addresses across south-east Queensland.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen some pretty horrific incidents recently: a pig’s head being left at Arundel mosque and the display of a Nazi flag outside the Brisbane synagogue, as well as the distribution of Nazi propaganda right here in our Brisbane suburbs,” Fentiman said.
She said the government had accepted all 17 of a recent parliamentary committee’s recommendations after its review of the nature and extent of hate crimes and serious vilification in the state.
She also confirmed the government would follow through with last year’s promise to outlaw hate symbols related to Nazi ideology.
“I want members of our many and varied communities across Queensland to know that your safety and your sense of belonging is extremely important, and we are acting to protect it,” Fentiman said.
“This government is committed to a Queensland that is harmonious, fair and inclusive, not one where individuals or groups are vilified based on their race, religion, language, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or gender.”
