Hate group listing would give home affairs ‘way too much power’, Canavan says
While the Coalition looks at making an agreement with Labor, there’s still some division within the opposition over elements of the bill.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan has told the ABC’s Radio National Breakfast this morning he’s not a fan of how broad the hate group listing is, which he says would give the home affairs department “way too much power” to ban groups.
Asked whether he would cross the floor if the Coalition decides to support the amended legislation, Canavan says “as the bill is drafted, I’m voting against it”.
Giving a power to a government to ban an entire group is an extremely serious change to our laws. I would have preferred to have much, much more time to look at this for it to go through a proper inquiry process.
Do we jail people for expressing just hate? Because I, I mean, what is hate? It’s very, very important, right … These laws we’re putting in place [to] weaponise words like hate to the extent that people can be put away for years in jail and my perspective here has always been that there is a line here that where someone is inciting a violent act, physically violent acts.
Key events
Rowland says she can’t guarantee the Coalition will support the bill
The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, says the two bills on gun control and hate speech will be introduced to parliament this morning and that there has been “constructive engagement” with the Coalition over the last 48 hours.
But on whether that deal is signed, sealed and delivered, Rowland, speaking on the ABC’s Radio National Breakfast, won’t guarantee the Coalition will support the bill when introduced and she says she won’t “pre-empt” anything.
I don’t want to pre-empt any of those conversations, and particularly since they have been undertaken in good faith … some of those issues go around the listing of hate groups and that framework. And it is a fact that the opposition has sought a number of amendments to this area. I will point out that the removal of the serious vilification provisions do mean that these remaining provisions in the prohibited hate groups section do need to do a lot of work.
Deal ‘really close’, says Burke
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, who under the new legislation would be given the power to list hate groups, as well has cancel or deny visas on broader character grounds, says the laws will not be “as strong as what the government want them to be”, but says his party is close to doing a deal with the Coalition. He tells Sky News:
I think we’re really close. I mean, effectively, the laws won’t be as strong as what the government want them to be, and that’s that’s been public for a while. But importantly, this will still involve the strongest hate speech laws that Australia’s ever had.
On anti-vilification provisions – which the government was forced to drop – Burke says that he doesn’t see a “pathway” to bring them back, despite some pressure from Labor MPs to do so.
We’ve got to deal with the parliament that we have, and I can’t see a pathway in the current parliament.
‘There is a long road to keep the Jewish community safe,’ Allegra Spender says
Independent MP Allegra Spender who represents the area that includes Bondi, says she expects hate speech legislation to be passed through parliament today, as the Coalition and government get closer to a deal.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast this morning, Spender said she had a conversation with the prime minister who indicated a deal had been reached.
It was certainty what I took from that conversation …
I do think it’s important that the parliament comes together and passes some legislation today, but honestly, there is a long road to keep the Jewish community safe, to bring our country together, and repair what we have lost.
Spender has been pushing for strong anti-vilification provisions in parliament, to protect other groups including the LGBTQI+ community, and said she would “continue to pursue these areas”.
‘It’s not done until it’s done’
The Coalition party room will meet this morning to discuss their final position on the bill, but ministers appear to be feeling positive, calling discussions “constructive”.
On ABC News Breakfast, the education minister, Jason Clare, (who gave an impassioned and emotional address on the condolence motion yesterday) says he’s confident but a deal “is not done until it’s done”.
The whole country are watching us right now. They expect us to come together today, to be bigger than the National parties and take action in the national interest, to keep Australians safe and I’m very confident that will happen today.
Asked about the home affairs minister, Tony Burke’s comments yesterday, that he wished the laws were stronger, Clare says, “I think everyone in the Labor party would have.”
Time is tight – the two bills are due to be introduced when parliament begins sitting this morning, and we can assume that there will still be plenty of debate in the chamber.
Hate group listing would give home affairs ‘way too much power’, Canavan says
While the Coalition looks at making an agreement with Labor, there’s still some division within the opposition over elements of the bill.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan has told the ABC’s Radio National Breakfast this morning he’s not a fan of how broad the hate group listing is, which he says would give the home affairs department “way too much power” to ban groups.
Asked whether he would cross the floor if the Coalition decides to support the amended legislation, Canavan says “as the bill is drafted, I’m voting against it”.
Giving a power to a government to ban an entire group is an extremely serious change to our laws. I would have preferred to have much, much more time to look at this for it to go through a proper inquiry process.
Do we jail people for expressing just hate? Because I, I mean, what is hate? It’s very, very important, right … These laws we’re putting in place [to] weaponise words like hate to the extent that people can be put away for years in jail and my perspective here has always been that there is a line here that where someone is inciting a violent act, physically violent acts.
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji with you here for another very busy sitting day of parliament.
It’s the second of two special sitting days, and it’s crunch time for the government to make an agreement with the Coalition to pass its hate speech bill – something looking increasingly likely after Sussan Ley agreed to cut a deal with Anthony Albanese late yesterday.
A very quick recap for you here: the government was forced to split its omnibus bill over the weekend, with the Greens to pass the gun reform bill and conversations ongoing with the opposition on the rest of the hate speech bill, with the anti-vilification provisions scrapped entirely.
I’ve got my coffee – I hope you’ve got a warm beverage. Let’s get into it!
Nationals want to ‘lean into the intent’ of banning hate groups
Jordyn Beazley
David Littleproud said his party wants to “lean in to the intent of the banning of hate groups” and “obviously sees the merit in reform to the migration act” after being asked what elements of the Albanese government’s reforms his party wants to support.
The leader of the Nationals appeared on ABC’s 7.30 on Monday night. He said:
We obviously see the merit in reform to [the] Migration Act that gives more power and the ability for the immigration minister to cancel visas.
We also are sympathetic and want to lean into the intent the banning of hate groups, but we’ve got to make sure there’s no unintended consequences in terms of the legislation, and how that interacts and how far-reaching that goes.
Littleproud has said he agrees with sections of the Albanese government’s gun reforms, but maintains that his party will not offer its support, adding that “I don’t believe that guns are the problem.”
He said:
Even the laws that [NSW premier] Chris Minns put in place would not have averted Bondi, because he reduced the ownership of guns in New South Wales to four per person, four guns were used in that tragedy, in that horrific event.
Littleproud said he did not support the government’s proposed buyback scheme, saying:
If you think in all honesty that by spending $1bn you are going to recover illegal guns … and you’re going to save Australians from future terror attacks, then you are kidding yourself.
Measles alert for western Sydney
Calla Wahlquist
People in NSW have been warned to be on the look out for symptoms of measles after authorities reported a confirmed case in a person who has recently returned from Thailand.
NSW Health said the person was “infectious while visiting locations in greater western Sydney”.
Particularly:
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Priceline Pharmacy St Clair from 3pm to 4pm on Wednesday 14 January; and
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Nepean Hospital Emergency Department from 7.50pm on Friday 16 January 2026 to 7.40pm Saturday 17 January
Anyone in either location is advised to be on alert for up to 18 days the above date of potential exposure to symptoms including a fever, runny nose, sore eyes and cough, followed three to four days later by a red, blotchy rash.
A full list of public exposure locations is here.
Dr Alvis Zibran, a public health specialist at the Nepean Blue Mountains local health district, said it was a reminder to get the measles vaccine – which is free for certain cohorts.
We want to remind the community to make sure they are up-to-date with their vaccinations. The measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough.
This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious.
Australia will see ‘drawn-out’ and ‘above-target inflation’, IMF says
Patrick Commins
The International Monetary Fund says Australia is “projected to see some drawn-out persistence in above-target inflation”, as economists and investors bet the RBA will be forced to hike interest rates this year.
Unemployment figures on Thursday followed by consumer price data the following Wednesday will help determine whether the Reserve Bank will deliver a hike on 3 February.
The IMF’s latest update to its world economic outlook said the global economy has “shaken off” the threat from Trump’s tariff, thanks to an historic surge in tech-related investment in the US and a resilient Chinese economy.
The Washington DC-based organisation did not change its forecasts for Australia’s economic growth, forecasting real GDP would climb by 2.1% in this fiscal year, and 2.2% in the next.
Global growth was upgraded to a projected 3.3% this year, against the October estimate of 3.1%.
The IMF said:
Remarkably, current projections are broadly unchanged from a year earlier, as the global economy shakes off the immediate impact of the tariff shock.
However, the report also said:
This masks underlying fragilities tied to the concentration of investment in the tech sector.
And the negative growth effects of trade disruptions are likely to build up over time.
Welcome
Calla Wahlquist
Good morning. Krishani Dhanji will be here shortly to guide you through happenings in Canberra, where the Albanese government is hoping to pass proposed hate speech laws introduced in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. As reported earlier, Anthony Albanese split the draft laws into two bills: one focused on gun control, which will pass with the support of the Greens, and the anti-racial vilification provisions, which require Coalition support.
Both Labor and the Liberal party held party room meetings late yesterday in an attempt to hash out a deal, and last night it seemed increasingly likely the bills would pass.
We are also expecting an announcement from NSW police today on whether they will again extend controversial restrictions on public protests – which would mean the ban was in place on 26 January, when a large Invasion Day rally is planned. Senior police last week suggested it was likely they would extend the ban and would “work with” organisers of the Invasion Day rally. Rally organisers have said they’ll march regardless.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund says Australia is projected to see “drawn-out persistence in above-target inflation”, further hinting at a potential rate hike for later in the year.
We’re also keeping an eye on extreme weather across the country, after at least two homes were lost in a bushfire that tore through the Fleurieu peninsula near Adelaide on Sunday.
Let’s crack on.
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