On11 March 2026, theFighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendment Act 2026became law in Queensland.Within hours of assent, thefirst arrestsoccurred andwithin days, the first police raid was conducted but this may only be the beginning, writesTyson Parker.
QUEENSLANDS NEW LAWS have beensaid to echothose of the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era.
In responseto the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on 14 December 2025, the Crisafulli Government merged gun reforms with new police powers and measures to stop hate speech.
Some firearms changes have been broadly supported, including tighter licensing rules, bans on 3D-printed gun blueprints and tougher penalties.
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Queenslandvice-presidentMichael Norristold a Parliamentary Committee,the measuresappropriately focus on criminal misuse and reflect the seriousness of these offences.
However, the Act also lowers thresholds, narrows protections and expands police powers in concerning ways.
Police monitor pro-Palestinian protestors at rally in Brisbane on 15/06/25 (Image supplied)
Speech and publication restrictions
UnderSection 52DAof the Criminal Code, it is now a criminal offence to 'publicly recite, publicly distribute, publish or publicly display' two phrases, if they could 'reasonably be expected to cause a member of the public to feel menaced, harassed or offended'.
The two expressions "from the river to the sea"and "globalise the intifada" carry a maximum of two years in prison.
Initially, the Bill had left phrases to be banned through future regulations.
Thus, a public Committee of Inquiry had only 17 days to assess the laws and hundreds of public submissions, without knowing the banned terms, which were addedat the last minute, along with several other provisions.
The Labor Opposition claimed this was due to a split in the Government's party room, while the LNP Government claimed it was a measure to stop the opposition from repealing or using the same powers in the future.
On 3 March, Opposition LeaderSteven Milessaid:
On 5 March, Police MinisterDan Purdietold Parliament:
The late additions denied proper scrutiny of these phrases, when even supporters of the new laws agree that their meanings are contested.
MrHoward Posner, aQueensland Jewish Board of Deputiesadviser,told the committee:
Law enforcement neednt prove someone was actually offended, only that the potential for offence existed.
The law also expands the ban to visual symbols belonging to prescribed organisations, which are determined by regulation as a terrorist organisation or state sponsor of terrorism.
Crucially, the standard of innocent until proven guilty has also arguably been narrowed.
For example, police can arrest journalists over a published phrase, who then must show a reasonable excuse, such as "fair and accurate"reporting, or opposing the ideology, but only in Court following arrest.
The silver lining is that legal experts suggest the laws may yet face Constitutional scrutiny.
Australia has no express Constitutional freedom of speech, but it does have animplied freedom of political communication.
The argumentis that the constitution establishes representative government, requiring members of parliament to be directly chosen by the people. For people to make informed choices, they must be free to communicate about political matters.
Cate Heyworth-Smith KCwarned that the lawsmay be vulnerableif they burden that freedom:
Police monitor pro-Palestinian protestors at rally in Brisbane on 15/06/25 (Image supplied)
Expanded police powers: covert operations and surveillance
Amendmentsto thePolice Powers and Responsibilities Act2000 (PPRA) have expanded policing capabilities.
Previously, controlled operations and related surveillance powers were generally reserved for offences carrying a maximum sentence of sevenyears. That threshold is now any indictable offence carrying a maximum penalty of at least three years.
The BillsStatement of Compatibilityacknowledges potential human rights impacts, including privacy and equality before the law, concluding that:
Several groups, includingLegal Aid Queensland, raised concerns, stating:
Covert operations are no longer just for evidence-gathering, with Police now explicitly empowered to authorise operations to frustrate disrupt or prevent the commission of an offence.
Expanded police powers: Warrantless searches and preparation laws
UnderSections 30 and 32of the PPRA, suspected publication of prohibited expressions can now trigger warrantless searches.
If an officer suspects someone is distributing, reciting or publishing a banned phrase, they can search persons and vehicles and seize personal belongings as evidence. Furthermore, the power to issue aFirearm Prohibition Order(FPO) has been stripped from the courts and given to the Police Commissioner.
An FPO can now be based on confidential criminal intelligence that the subject may never see, even on appeal. It can also rely on a broad criminal history, including spent, unrecorded and quashed convictions, as well as withdrawn or struck-out charges.
That leaves people potentially facing warrantless searches while challenging an order blind.
Newly insertedSection 141ZGAof theWeapons Act 1990also creates another concerning possibility.
FPO search powers can now reach people merely 'in the company of'an FPO subject, allowing police to stop, detain and search them without a warrant if they suspect they have a firearm or related item.
Perhaps the most sweeping uncertainty lies in newSection 540Aof theCriminal Code, which creates a 14-year offence for preparing serious violence.
The prosecution does not need to prove preparation for a specific planned offence, or that any offence was ever carried out.
This casts a wide and uncertain net that could blur the line between criminal planning and journalism, artistic work or public commentary, if later said to resemble preparation rather than inquiry or expression.
Its uncertain how these powers will be useduntil a precedent is set, although whats clear is that these broad measures are capable of being used beyond just fighting antisemitismand keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals.
With raids andarrests already occurring, its fair to suspect they may be tested by the stick rather than the carrot.
Those most at risk as usual will be minority groups and First Nations communities, activists, immigrants, students and journalists.
Tyson Parkeris a freelance journalist, photographer and researcher based in South-East Queensland.
