They form part of a slate of legislation Labor is looking to clear as parliament sits on Tuesday for the first time in 2025 with a federal election to be called imminently.
The laws targeting hate crimes would create new offences for threatening force of violence against particular groups, including on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, nationality or political opinion.
It comes off the back of increased anti-Semitic attacks, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, including the firebombing of a synagogue, cars and a childcare centre as well as expletive-ridden graffiti and Nazi iconography.
Anti-Semitic slurs and other graffiti have been increasingly turning up in Jewish communities. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
The opposition has attacked the prime minister's response, blaming the rise in anti-Semitism on Anthony Albanese's leadership while the Labor government calls for the temperature to be lowered and terrorism not to be used for political advantage.
The Liberals support the new laws in principle and have called for them to be passed but want them strengthened.
Shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash said she would move an amendment to cover people who threaten attacks against places of worship, but Labor says there are already adequate provisions in the bill.
The opposition is also moving to put in place mandatory minimum prison sentences for terrorism.
The recent discovery of a caravan of explosives that may have been intended for a synagogue attack highlighted the need for strengthened provisions, Senator Cash said.
"We intend to move those amendments so that we can pass the bill when the parliament meets again in February," she told AAP.
Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash will push for Labor's new anti-hate laws to go even further. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)
Labor is generally opposed to mandatory minimum sentencing but has included it for visa offences in recent legislation after sustained pressure from the Liberals about community safety.
Debate on the bill is set to resume on Tuesday.
Cost-of-living pressures remain a major focus with Labor set to introduce legislation to increase childcare subsidies and lock in fee-free TAFE as it spruiks moderating inflation that has spurred hope for a February rate cut.
Sticky inflation is at the centre of the coalition's economic attacks as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton chastised Labor's spending.
"If the government's pretending that somehow they've performed this miracle, the economy's turned around and families should be grateful – I just don't think that's the discussion around family tables at the moment," he said.
Labor will look to get on top of the cost-of-living debate with a TV and digital advertising blitz about the opposition failing to support key relief measures such as power bill subsidies and changes to tax cuts.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has kept the heat on the Labor government over its spending. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
As the opposition asks voters whether they've been better off over the past three years, the government is looking to flip the narrative, saying Australians would be $7200 worse off if the coalition was in power as it voted against cost-of-living relief.
The government is still looking to pass electoral reforms after negotiations with the Liberals broke down towards the end of 2024 and the crossbench all but rejected the bill as a major party stitch-up.
The two main parties were at an impasse over expenditure and donation threshold changes.
Environmental protection legislation has again been shelved amid pressure from the key battleground state of Western Australia, which has a strong mining sector.
29°C