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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Tom McIlroy and Jordyn Beazley

Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu may be an offence under Australia’s new hate speech laws, Greens claim

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The Greens’ David Shoebridge said legitimate criticism of Israel or the country’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured), could lead to prosecution if they cause psychological harm and prompt warnings from intelligence agencies. Photograph: Abir Sultan/EPA

The Greens have claimed Labor’s newly passed hate speech bill could criminalise reasonable expressions of contempt or ridicule by individuals and groups, and see critics of the government of Israel targeted for prosecution.

The Greens justice spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said rushed amendments – agreed between Labor and the Coalition in the wake of the Bondi terror attacks – represent an unprecedented expansion of political power to ban organisations and criminalise speech based on vague standards.

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