Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security's report Review of the listing of Hizb ut-Tahrir as a prohibited hate group under the Criminal Code, and I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

I want to make it clear to the Senate that the review was conducted under section 114A.9 of the Criminal Code Act 1995, following the making of the regulations in March this year specifying Hizb ut-Tahrir as a prohibited hate group. It was the first use of the framework for prohibited hate groups, which was established by the parliament earlier this year, as senators will remember.

The committee approached this task with the gravity it demanded. We rigorously scrutinised the material before us and we included a detailed statement of reasons that the government provided. We heard from a wide range of stakeholders as part of our inquiry, and the committee also convened an in camera hearing to test the evidence and satisfy ourselves that the legislative criteria that have been set had been met and that the process was sound. That's very important because we've got to give the Australian people the confidence that this parliament is doing its job.

The conclusion from the committee is absolutely clear. Hizb ut-Tahrir meets the legislative criteria for listing as a prohibited hate group, and the listing has been made properly. The evidence is unambiguous. This organisation has repeatedly praised attacks that would constitute hate crimes if committed on Australian soil. It promotes hatred, it normalises violence and it poses a direct threat to the safety and social cohesion of our community. The committee is satisfied that the listing is not only justified but necessary to protect Australians from harm.

The days of organisations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir opening freely in this country are over. We will not allow hate to be dressed up as ideology. Australia draws a very firm line. Groups that incite hatred, radicalise individuals and endanger lives have no place here. The PJCIS supports wholeheartedly the listing of Hizb ut-Tahrir as a prohibited hate group under the Criminal Code and finds absolutely no reason to disallow this legislative instrument. I commend the report to the Senate, and I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.