Australia news LIVE: Hate-speech laws back on table as sitting week continues; DeepSeek banned on Australian government devices

New hate-speech laws are expected to pass the parliament this week, but the government and the Coalition continue to mull support for amendments put forth by independent MP Allegra Spender, whose electorate of Wentworth has been the site of several acts of antisemitism in recent months.

Spender is negotiating the changes with the major parties in the hope they will accept a new provision in the hate speech bill to add to the penalties on those who incite hatred against people on the basis of religion, race, disability, gender, sexual orientation or other attributes.

Her amendment would criminalise a public act, done with intent, to promote hatred towards individuals or groups on the basis of these attributes.

Fellow crossbencher Zoe Daniel was asked about the amendments on ABC’s RN Breakfast. She said that while she understands concerns about the “very fine line” between restricting hate speech and restricting free speech, “the two things are not the same”.

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Daniel noted that Spender’s amendment is based on a Western Australian law that’s been in place for two decades without free speech issue.

“Hate speech is designed to inspire fear in a person and to vilify a person and to threaten a person and Allegra’s amendment goes to promotion of that, and it’s particularly targeted at things like hate speech online, which is designed to hit a big audience to promote hatred, and from that point of view, I understand what she’s trying to do,” Daniel said.

“I know that people might have some concerns with it, to do with how it’s applied and making sure the language is perfect within the law.”