Queensland moves to ban 'from the river to the sea' in new hate laws

Queensland could become the first state in Australia to outlaw the phrase "from the river to the sea" under sweeping new hate speech reforms announced by the state government. The premier, David Crisafulli, announced the proposed laws on Sunday, ahead of their introduction to parliament on Tuesday, describing them as a direct response to the Bondi terror attack, in which 15 people were killed during a Hanukah celebration.

The legislation creates an offence prohibiting the public distribution, publication, display or recitation of proscribed phrases where the conduct is intended to cause menace, harassment or offence. The attorney general, Deb Frecklington, confirmed "globalise the intifada" and "from the river to the sea" would be included as proscribed phrases.

"These sayings have no place in Queensland, when they are used to incite hatred, offence and menace," she said. Anyone found distributing, publishing, displaying or reciting a prohibited phrase would face a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Australia, Bondi