Month: January 2026

Natalie Ward
Acting Leader of the Opposition

Today’s announcement of a Commonwealth Royal Commission is a necessary and long-overdue step to confront the alarming rise of antisemitism and extremism, and the systemic failures that have allowed it to escalate.

The NSW Opposition has consistently advocated for a national response of this scale, including formally calling on Premier Chris Minns to request a Commonwealth Royal Commission with full powers and national scope.

This outcome reflects the seriousness of the threat and the clear reality that these issues extend well beyond the borders of any one state.

Antisemitism has been allowed to grow unchecked in New South Wales. Successive failures across governments to intervene early and strengthen existing laws have left communities exposed and undermined public confidence.

A Commonwealth Royal Commission is the only mechanism capable of examining the full picture, across intelligence, law enforcement, online radicalisation and counter-terrorism frameworks, and delivering accountability and reform at a national level.

The NSW Opposition stands ready to work constructively with the NSW Government to ensure this process delivers real outcomes, restores confidence, and sends an unequivocal message that antisemitism and extremist violence have no place in our state or our country.
 

Federal Parliament will be recalled to deal with important national security legislation in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack.

The Prime Minister will write to the Speaker asking for the House of Representatives to sit on Monday 19 January and Tuesday 20 January. Senator Wong as Leader of the Government in the Senate will be writing in similar terms to the President.

The first order of business will be a condolence motion to remember those who lost their lives and those whose lives were forever changed by this antisemitic terrorist attack.

Agreement has been reached with the Opposition on the wording of the condolence motion.

Parliament will then deal with legislation the Government began drafting in the immediate aftermath of the attack. It will be introduced to the House on Monday and debated on Tuesday before being transmitted to the Senate.

The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 is a comprehensive package of reforms that:

• Creates serious offences for hate preachers and leaders seeking to radicalise children
• Increases the penalties for hate crimes offences
• Ensures that offenders whose crimes were motivated by extremism have that factored into their sentencing
• Creates a new offence for inciting hatred in order to intimidate or harass
• Expands and strengthens the ban on prohibited symbols
• Makes it easier for the Minister for Home Affairs to cancel or refuse a visa for people who want to come here and spread hatred
• Creates a new framework that will enable the Minister for Home Affairs to list organisations as ‘Prohibited Hate Groups’. Once an organisation is listed – it will be a criminal offence to be a member, recruit for it, donate or receive funds or support that group in any way.
• Set up the National Gun Buyback Scheme to get guns off our streets.

The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds – and lethal weapons in their hands. These reforms deal with both.

The Bill will be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for a sharp and focused inquiry.

We want these laws to have the broadest possible backing, demonstrating that our Parliament and our nation are united in our determination to combat hatred and eradicate the evil of antisemitism and extremism.

National unity is vital to our national security – and our Government will continue to strengthen both.

Every day since the devastating antisemitic terrorist atrocity at Bondi Beach, the Albanese Government has been focused on strengthening our national security and our national unity.

Already we have:

• Taken further action in response to the recommendations from our Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal
• Brought the National Cabinet together to fast track tougher gun laws nationwide
• Delivered new resources to our law enforcement agencies to help prevent further attacks
• Established the Richardson Review – to quickly identify any gaps in the work of the national security bodies
• Established the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, led by Former High Court Justice the Honourable Virginia Bell AC

Getting this legislation passed is the next step to protecting our national security and our national unity.

It is with deep appreciation for his tireless contribution to our national interests over the last three years in Washington that we today announce the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC will conclude his posting as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States at the end of March 2026.

Dr. Rudd has decided to accept the role of global President of leading international relations think tank, the Asia Society, which has recently become vacant and which Dr. Rudd headed between 2021-2023. Dr. Rudd will also head the Society’s Centre for China Analysis.

Dr Rudd is one of the world’s most eminent and sought-after experts on China and US–China relations.

Dr Rudd has delivered concrete outcomes for Australia – during both Democrat and Republican Administrations – in collaboration with our closest security ally and principal strategic partner.

We thank Dr Rudd for his exceptional service as Ambassador and as a former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Australia.

Since Dr Rudd commenced in March 2023, he has led the Australian Embassy’s work to advance Australia’s interests in the United States, including by:

• Securing US Congressional authorising legislation for AUKUS, with full bipartisan support, as well as full presidential endorsement from both the Biden and Trump Administrations.
• Negotiating and concluding the Critical Minerals and Rare Earths Framework Agreement with the US, which is now being implemented across multiple mining and processing projects to the benefit of both countries – and forms the basis for US agreements with others partners, including the G7.
• Securing agreement to negotiate a bilateral critical technology agreement that will unlock billions of dollars in new US investment in Australian data centre, AI and Quantum projects – in addition to the $25 billion already secured in investment from Microsoft and Amazon Web Services during Dr. Rudd’s tenure.
• Turbocharging US engagement with Australia’s superannuation industry, including by convening the Australian Super Summit in Washington DC in 2025 and again in March 2026, elevating Australia’s capital pool and strengthening Sydney’s credentials as the next financial services centre of the Indo-Pacific.
• Working to secure Julian Assange’s return to Australia in 2024.
• Introducing Global Entry and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) services for all Australian travellers to the US as of 2024-25, significantly reducing processing and waiting times at US international and domestic airports for registered participants.
• Developing personal and working relationships across the Trump and Biden Administrations, Republican and Democrat congressional leadership, and key stakeholders in the defence, intelligence and corporate communities.

We also recognise the outstanding work of Ms Therese Rein. We thank Therese for her invaluable contribution to advancing Australia’s interests in the US.

Ambassador Rudd will conclude his posting on March 31, 2026. An announcement regarding Australia’s new Ambassador to the United States will take place in due course.

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada and the European Union issued the following statement:

“We commend the bravery of the Iranian people as they stand up for their dignity and their fundamental right to peaceful protest. 

“We strongly condemn the killing of protestors, the use of violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics by the Iranian regime against its own people. 

“Iran must immediately end the use of excessive and lethal force by its security forces including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij against protestors. Too many lives – over 40 to date – have already been lost.

“The Iranian regime has the responsibility to protect its own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal.”

Acting Leader of the Australian Greens and Arts & Communications spokesperson Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young said:

Like a lot of South Australians today, I am deeply disturbed the Adelaide’s beloved Writers Festival has been ruined by this terrible decision.

The decision to drop Palestinian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah from Adelaide Writers Festival is deeply concerning and should be reversed.

Freedom of expression and the exchange of ideas are what makes writers festivals what they are.

Engaging in respectful, thoughtful debate and challenging ideas and opinions is the whole purpose of an event like this.

Censorship and shutting down diverse voices, including Palestinian voices is the antithesis of an open, free and respectful democracy.

South Australia has a proud history of our arts festivals and supporting artist freedom of expression. This craven decision will leave our state and our reputation as the festival state in tatters.

The Greens will continue to advocate for artists to do their work free of political interference and pressure.

As both a regular panelist and supporter of the AWW I am extremely disappointed and saddened that the Adelaide Festival board has made this decision. It is a bad decision and should be reversed.