Australian government introduces bill to toughen penalties for hate crimes

September 12 () –

The Australian government on Thursday introduced a bill that includes sentences of up to seven years in prison for committing hate crimes and violating the personal data of the population, according to the country’s Prosecutor’s Office.

“The (Anthony) Albanese government has presented a bill that provides for criminal sanctions for new offences and strengthens protection against hate crimes,” the organisation said in a statement.

These amendments include sentences of up to five years in prison for threats or use of force against individuals or groups. If these threats are directed at the authorities, the sentences can be increased to seven years in prison, the same penalty established for the most serious crimes of disclosure of personal data without consent.

These are the first measures put in place by Canberra to give Australians greater control over their online data after the data of some 600 Australian Jews was leaked in February following heightened tensions over Israel’s offensive against the Gaza Strip.