The Albanese government is trying to ram through a new set of vilification laws, bundled into an “omnibus” bill alongside gun reforms, and it’s already exploding before Parliament resumes.
Labor calls it the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, but that title alone tells you what’s going on, one form of racism gets special priority, right there at the top.
The Liberals and Greens are both refusing to support it, and for good reason. The Bill lowers the legal threshold from speech that incites violence to speech that merely “promotes hate”, and hands huge power to a highly subjective “reasonable person” test. Not a law anchored in harm, but a law anchored in vibes.
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00:00 Hate speech laws, the “biggest hate crime” carve out
01:41 Adelaide Writers Festival meltdown, Murdoch spin cycle
08:38 The Omnibus Crash, “Combating Antisemitism” bill breakdown
20:54 Wrap up, final hit + call to action
Michael West established Michael West Media in 2016 to focus on journalism of high public interest, particularly the rising power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor with Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and even, once, a stockbroker.
