Labor’s hate speech laws set to pass as Ley and Albanese cut deal on bill crafted in wake of Bondi terror attack

Labor's hate speech laws, designed to combat antisemitism following the Bondi beach terror attack, are set to pass after Sussan Ley, a member of the Liberal party, reached an agreement with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This development occurred ahead of a Coalition partyroom meeting intended to finalize their position on the bill. Late on Monday, Liberal MPs expressed their support for Labor's revised legislation after discussions between Ley and Albanese. The legislation aims to ban hate groups and includes provisions for a national gun buyback scheme. These measures were passed in the Senate during a late-night vote, following a special two-day sitting convened to address the political repercussions of the December 14 shooting incident. The Albanese government successfully negotiated separate agreements with both the Liberals and the Greens to facilitate the passage of these bills. Despite the support from the Liberals, the Coalition remains divided, with some members, including Bridget McKenzie, criticizing the government for what she described as "trashing normal process of parliamentary scrutiny." The passage of these laws marks a significant legislative response to the Bondi beach massacre, reflecting ongoing concerns about hate speech and public safety in Australia.