The Australian Government has introduced new laws to strengthen Australia’s response to antisemitism, hate-motivated behaviour, and extremist activity. These reforms are aimed at better protecting the community by giving authorities stronger powers to identify and respond to individuals or groups involved in promoting hate or extremist conduct.
These reforms aim to better protect the Australian community by giving authorities stronger powers to identify and respond to individuals or groups involved in promoting hate or extremist conduct.
Key Changes to Migration and Citizenship Laws
The new law updates several major migration and citizenship rules to ensure Australia can prevent high-risk individuals from entering or remaining in the country, and that visa and citizenship processes reflect modern security concerns.
Stronger Visa Character Test Rules
The legislation expands the visa character test (Section 501), allowing visas to be refused or cancelled for people involved in hate or extremist activity, including those who:
- Are members of terrorist organisations or prohibited hate groups
- Support or associate with such groups
- Have been involved in hate crimes (even without a conviction)
- Promote racial, ethnic, or religious hatred online or in public
- Encourage others to spread hateful messages
Lower Risk Threshold
Authorities can now act if a person “might” pose a risk, rather than needing proof they “would” pose a risk. This allows earlier preventative action.
Temporary Safe Haven Visa Powers Expanded
The Government may also refuse or cancel Temporary Safe Haven Visas where individuals are linked to extremist or hate-related conduct, even before the behaviour escalates.
Permanent Exclusion From Reapplying
Under updated migration regulations, individuals refused visas under certain character provisions may face permanent exclusion, meaning they cannot apply again unless:
- The refusal is revoked, or
- The Minister grants a permanent visa personally.
Citizenship Law Amendments
The law also strengthens citizenship provisions by:
- Expanding national security offences to include convictions involving prohibited hate groups
- Allowing citizenship to be refused where a person’s conduct threatens public safety or national security
Click here: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 and Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026