Addressing NSW’s hate laws
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies is working closely with NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton on the need to amend the state’s hate-speech legislation.
NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton
The ongoing consultation stems from a speech by the spiritual leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Ismail al-Wahwah, inciting violence against Jews, and the need to change the law so that incitement of violence against a person or group on the basis of their ethnic identity will be prosecuted.
The Director of Public Prosecutions and the NSW Police have both decided against prosecuting al-Wahwah despite agreement that a breach of the law had occurred.
Vic Alhadeff Photo: Henry Benjamin
Board of Deputies President Jeremy Spinak and CEO Vic Alhadeff have had a number of meetings with the Attorney-General in recent weeks designed to progress the issue and achieve a constructive outcome.
Alhadeff said: “Our clear understanding is that the State Government is keen to improve the legislative process in connection with this issue and is working towards reform. The Attorney-General has been receptive to our views on this issue and, as always, has been supportive of the community’s concerns. Close consultation and ongoing dialogue with her and her senior staff are continuing, and we look forward to a positive outcome that will benefit not only the Jewish community, but all 200 ethnic communities which comprise the state of New South Wales.”
Can somebody explain me why the officials decided against prosecution of Al Wah Wah despite that the breach of the law has occurred? Are their special provisions in the law for not prosecuting specifically the liders of terrorist Muslim organisations? Are they exemptions from the law applied to others? It looks like we live not in Australia but in a communist country where different types of law applied to party elites and ordinary people. Shame on you!
Lucy Levina