Kellie Sloane
Leader of the Opposition
NSW Liberal Leader
Damien Tudehope
Shadow Attorney General
Shadow Minister for Youth Justice
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council
NSW LIBERALS AND NATIONALS TO INTRODUCE STRONG LAWS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM EXTREMIST GROOMING AND COMBAT ANTISEMITISM
The NSW Liberals and Nationals will introduce two Bills to the NSW Parliament aimed at protecting children from violent extremist grooming and taking a clear, unequivocal stand against antisemitism in NSW.
The Countering Violent Extremism Bill 2026 responds to growing concern about radicalisation, both online and in the community, and the targeting of children and vulnerable people by extremist actors, conduct that currently falls outside existing terrorism laws.
This Bill would create new criminal offences of grooming, recruiting, coercing, threatening or deceiving a person to participate in violent extremism, with higher penalties if the offence is targeted at a child.
It would also add the offences involving children to the existing mandatory reporting scheme, so that children at risk of being groomed for participation in violent extremism are identified and protected in the same way as children being groomed for sexual abuse.
The Prevention of Antisemitism Bill 2026 provides long-overdue legal clarity by explicitly defining and addressing antisemitism, ensuring it is recognised, understood and acted upon consistently across government and public institutions, including universities and local government authorities.
The Bill would specifically prohibit government grants to or the procurement of goods and services from people or organisations engaging in antisemitic activities.
The definition of antisemitism would also guide the interpretation of the hate speech offences in sections 93Z and 93ZAA of the Crimes Act 1900.
Leader of the Opposition, Kellie Sloane, said the new laws represent the NSW Liberals and Nationals detailed and considered response to combatting violent extremism and antisemitism, particularly in the wake of the Bondi Terror Attack.
"Our proposed laws ensure that extremist actors who seek to target children and vulnerable people online or in the community can be held accountable for their attempts to radicalise people to further their twisted agenda," Ms Sloane said.
"Every parent, teacher, and reasonable member of our community wants to see our young people protected."
"Creating a new offence provides law enforcement agencies with more tools to combat and prevent violent extremism."
"There should be no ambiguity when it comes to confronting antisemitism."
"Enshrining a definition of antisemitism in NSW law, as recommended by the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, makes it clear that antisemitism has no place in our public institutions, our universities or our community, and that government funding should never support it."
"In March 2022, all Labor members voted for a motion supporting the IHRA definition moved by the then Liberal Nationals Government in the Legislative Council, so we are calling on Chris Minns and Labor to maintain their position and support our new laws."
"The people of NSW expect the Parliament to take every step possible to stamp out antisemitism and all forms of extremism across our State."
Shadow Attorney General, Damien Tudehope, said these proposed laws create clear offences for conduct that is already occurring but is not adequately captured by current law.
"Grooming, recruiting or coercing someone into violent extremism is profoundly serious conduct, particularly when the target is a child," Mr Tudehope said.
"These offences send a clear message: if you are radicalising people towards violence, you will face serious criminal consequences."
"By adopting the IHRA definition and its explanatory examples, this Bill gives clarity to courts, public institutions and the community about what antisemitism looks like in practice today."
"This is about ensuring antisemitism is recognised, addressed and not excused by ambiguity or double standards."
The NSW Liberals and Nationals will introduce both Bills in the Legislative Council this week and seek to debate them over the coming Parliamentary sittings.
