ASIO chief to be able to recommend organisations be proscribed as hate groups

The head of Australia’s security agency would be able to recommend organisations be proscribed as hate groups under a Labor government draft bill released on Tuesday, the legislation shows. The draft also includes new hate speech and anti‑vilification laws and provisions for a major gun buy‑back scheme.

Under the bill the director general of security, who leads the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio), would recommend a designation to the home affairs minister, who would take that recommendation to the governor‑general. Listing would also require the attorney‑general’s written agreement and a brief to the opposition leader.

The bill sets a lower threshold than the terrorist listing, focusing on organisations that have directly engaged in, prepared or assisted conduct constituting a hate crime targeted by race or national or ethnic origin, or that have advocated such conduct, and where listing is reasonably necessary to prevent social, economic, psychological or physical harm.

The draft makes it a crime to direct a designated hate group, be a member of one, recruit for it, train for it or provide support or funds. An individual who intentionally directs a listed group could face up to 15 years in prison, with lesser penalties for reckless direction or membership; recruiting another person intentionally could attract up to 15 years.

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Politics, Asio, Australia, Mike Burgess, Anthony Albanese, National Socialist Network