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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has referenced the Old Testament while defending a carve-out in hate speech laws described as a potential "loophole" for extremist preachers.
Anthony Albanese has referenced the Old Testament in a vague bid to defend a feared "loophole" in his government's draft hate speech laws.
The Coalition holds concerns a carve-out permitting the direct quotation of religious texts "for the purpose of religious teaching or discussion" would undermine the law's efficacy.
There are fears the exemption would empower radical preachers to use interpretations of the Quran and Hadiths – a record of the speech and actions of the Prophet Muhammad – to spread hatred of the Jewish community.
Asked to explain the carve out for religious texts at a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Albanese said the laws will set a "principle-based test" for speech and conduct that "incites racial hatred".
"The bill has been referred to the (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security). We want to get the broadest possible support for this bill. I don't know if you've read the Old Testament, but I refer you to that," he said.
The PM again was asked if he could explain the "narrow defence" for quoting from religious texts.
The Prime Minister has batted away questions surrounding a feared hate speech "loophole" by referring Australians to the Old Testament. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman.
"I just answered the question. I can answer it again by referring you to the Old Testament and to various religious texts," he said.
"I encourage you to read the Old Testament and see what's there and see if you outlaw that, what would occur.
"So, we need to be careful. We consulted with faith groups, not just with the Jewish community. We want to make sure there's the broadest possible support for this legislation.
"But we also want to make sure that there isn't unintended consequences of the legislation as well. But that's why we've referred it to a committee as well that will examine those issues."
A leaked copy of the draft bill, obtained by News.com.au, stated a preacher is not liable in the eyes of the law if they are directly quoting or "referencing" a religious text for "teaching or discussion".
“Subsection (1) does not apply to conduct that consists only of directly quoting from, or otherwise referencing, a religious text for the purpose of religious teaching or discussion,’’ the draft bill read.
Passages in some English translations of the Quran, for example, label disbelieving Jews, Christians and polytheists of the time "the worst of all beings".
Discussion and teaching of such would be permitted under the leaked draft bill.
Christian leaders feared the legislation could cover sexual and gender identity passages of the Bible, according to the Australian, including those in the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament which oppose homosexual acts.
Parliament will sit next week for two days to introduce and debate the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.
One Federal Court case in 2025 provided an example of how hate speech laws could be used in relation to preachers' lectures and sermons.
Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad lost a racial discrimination case in June over a series of lectures called "the Jews of Al Madina".
Justice Angus Stewart found his lectures contained remarks which were “reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate and intimidate” Australian Jews, ruling in favour of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
The Court found the Sydney-based Islamic cleric breached 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act after a Jewish organisation sought legal action, citing inaction by Australia’s “responsible authorities”.
The Islamic preacher's lawyer, Elia Tabchouri of Macquarie Law Group, told reporters outside the court his client maintained that his sermons were delivered in the context of “religious instruction” which were “never intended” to cause offence.
“The words he spoke were those from the scripture and he maintains that he has the right to quote religious scripture, as all parties do, the court has found he has that right,” he said.
Anthony Albanese has referenced the Old Testament in a vague bid to defend a feared "loophole" in his government's draft hate speech laws.
The Coalition holds concerns a carve-out permitting the direct quotation of religious texts "for the purpose of religious teaching or discussion" would undermine the law's efficacy.
There are fears the exemption would empower radical preachers to use interpretations of the Quran and Hadiths – a record of the speech and actions of the Prophet Muhammad – to spread hatred of the Jewish community.
Asked to explain the carve out for religious texts at a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Albanese said the laws will set a "principle-based test" for speech and conduct that "incites racial hatred".
"The bill has been referred to the (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security). We want to get the broadest possible support for this bill. I don't know if you've read the Old Testament, but I refer you to that," he said.
The PM again was asked if he could explain the "narrow defence" for quoting from religious texts.
The Prime Minister has batted away questions surrounding a feared hate speech "loophole" by referring Australians to the Old Testament. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman.
"I just answered the question. I can answer it again by referring you to the Old Testament and to various religious texts," he said.
"I encourage you to read the Old Testament and see what's there and see if you outlaw that, what would occur.
"So, we need to be careful. We consulted with faith groups, not just with the Jewish community. We want to make sure there's the broadest possible support for this legislation.
"But we also want to make sure that there isn't unintended consequences of the legislation as well. But that's why we've referred it to a committee as well that will examine those issues."
A leaked copy of the draft bill, obtained by News.com.au, stated a preacher is not liable in the eyes of the law if they are directly quoting or "referencing" a religious text for "teaching or discussion".
“Subsection (1) does not apply to conduct that consists only of directly quoting from, or otherwise referencing, a religious text for the purpose of religious teaching or discussion,’’ the draft bill read.
Passages in some English translations of the Quran, for example, label disbelieving Jews, Christians and polytheists of the time "the worst of all beings".
Discussion and teaching of such would be permitted under the leaked draft bill.
Christian leaders feared the legislation could cover sexual and gender identity passages of the Bible, according to the Australian, including those in the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament which oppose homosexual acts.
Parliament will sit next week for two days to introduce and debate the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.
One Federal Court case in 2025 provided an example of how hate speech laws could be used in relation to preachers' lectures and sermons.
Islamic preacher Wissam Haddad lost a racial discrimination case in June over a series of lectures called "the Jews of Al Madina".
Justice Angus Stewart found his lectures contained remarks which were “reasonably likely to offend, insult, humiliate and intimidate” Australian Jews, ruling in favour of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
The Court found the Sydney-based Islamic cleric breached 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act after a Jewish organisation sought legal action, citing inaction by Australia’s “responsible authorities”.
The Islamic preacher's lawyer, Elia Tabchouri of Macquarie Law Group, told reporters outside the court his client maintained that his sermons were delivered in the context of “religious instruction” which were “never intended” to cause offence.
“The words he spoke were those from the scripture and he maintains that he has the right to quote religious scripture, as all parties do, the court has found he has that right,” he said.
