State walks back attorney-general’s powers as Labor moves to support hate speech bill
Sydney Morning Herald
by Matt Dennien, Catherine StrohfeldtMarch 2, 2026
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Queensland’s government has made last-minute changes to its controversial hate speech and gun laws proposal, reducing the powers of the attorney-general. Initially, the bill would have granted unprecedented authority to regulate phrases, symbols, and speech deemed offensive or inciting hostility. However, after public consultation and criticism, the government decided to limit these powers to symbols only, with banned phrases requiring parliamentary approval. This shift came as the Labor opposition announced it would support the amended bill despite concerns about its impact on free speech and gun laws.
The changes were revealed following pressure from civil society groups, legal experts, and labor members who raised concerns during a rushed scrutiny process. The original proposal had sparked significant controversy, particularly over plans to criminalize specific protest slogans like "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." Critics argued that these measures risked granting unchecked powers to the government of the day, potentially silencing dissent.
The revised bill retains stricter gun laws, which critics say leave Queensland with some of the weakest regulations
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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 3/2/2026