Nicolette Boele (Bradfield, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Prime Minister. Parliament has passed laws to combat antisemitism, hate and extremism, but legislative levers are one of a myriad of responses required to prevent terror attacks of the type that we saw in Bondi. You've called for a royal commission, but what are the other steps to address the underlying cultural, social and economic factors which contribute to extremism? Will you commit to adequately resourcing the implementation of a national anti-racism framework, a comprehensive strategy commissioned by your government and released in November 2024?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bradfield for her question. Indeed, we do need to deal with a comprehensive response not just to antisemitism but also to building social cohesion. I think the attack that we saw in Perth is an example of something that the authorities are dealing with. I'll be meeting with the WA commissioner, who was in the chamber earlier today, along with the AFP commissioner to be briefed on that at a later time, because that was a very serious incident that is being looked at being designated to be an act of terrorism, and the authorities are looking at that indeed. Having received a preliminary briefing, I think it is quite extraordinary that there weren't more serious consequences of what occurred there in Perth. Antisemitism requires constant vigilance. We brought forward the legislation before the parliament, and it is a fact that there was a considerable advance through legislation not just on guns but on hate speech. It didn't go as far as the envoy on antisemitism's report recommended, but, nonetheless, it was a significant advance forward. I thank all those who voted for that legislation in both the House and the Senate.

We'll continue to engage across the board on these issues. The member refers to extremism and to issues breaking down social cohesion. We have had incidents as well of so-called sovereign citizens being involved in the murder of police officers in Victoria and Queensland. There is a range of threats that are very real, including, of course, a number of incidents that have been publicised before the court involving myself and members of parliament.

I think we need a broader conversation as a society as well about the impact of polarisation and about the impact, as I've said, of social media pushing people towards more and more extremes down these rabbit holes, and the fact that it's, well, clickbait.

Well, there's two seconds to go.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give the call to the member for Bradfield.

Nicolette Boele (Bradfield, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order of relevance. The question was specifically around the reasons.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has concluded his answer. The time has concluded.