Queensland Parliament has introduced major changes to its hate crime and gun laws. These reforms come as concerns grow about antisemitism and extremist behaviour following the Bondi terror attack. The government says the new measures aim to improve safety and better protect communities.
The laws – part of the Fighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendment Bill 2026, came into effect on 11 March 2026. In practical terms, they bring in stricter rules around symbols and expressions the legislation defines as extremist, provide stronger protections for religious communities, and make significant changes to how firearms are regulated in Queensland.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s changed and what it means for you.
What has changed?
The new laws focus on two main areas:
- Hate‑related conduct, prohibited symbols, and protections for faith communities
- Stronger firearm offences and expanded policing powers
Prohibited symbols and hate-motivated behaviour
What’s now banned?
Queensland has brought in new rules that make certain expressions linked to prohibited ideological or violent movements a criminal offence. Two phrases are now banned when they are used to menace, harass or offend:
- “from the river to the sea”
- “globalise the intifada”
The changes also tighten the rules around the display of symbols and gestures that authorities classify as extremist or terrorist, whether in public or online.
Conduct around places of worship
People attending or working in places of worship are also covered under the new protections, with tougher penalties now applying to harassment, intimidation, and damage involving religious facilities. Penalties have increased in several areas:
- Assaults on ministers of religion - maximum penalty of five years
- Intimidating or obstructing people entering or leaving a place of worship - maximum penalty of three years
- Wilful damage to places of worship -now a crime carrying up to seven years
- Disturbing religious worship - offence has been modernised and the penalties increased
Alongside the hate related changes, the new laws contain one of the most significant updates to Queensland’s weapons laws in recent years.
Firearms and weapons reforms
Alongside the hate‑related changes, the new laws introduce one of the most significant updates to Queensland’s weapons laws in recent years.
New offences and tougher penalties
The reforms create several new offences and increase penalties for existing ones, including:
- Reckless discharge of a firearm towards a building or vehicle - aimed at “drive-by” style shootings
- 3D printed firearms and blueprints - new offences for possessing or sharing plans used to manufacture weapons
- Higher penalties for trafficking and illegal possession of firearms
- Stealing a firearm or ammunition - now carries a maximum penalty of up to 14 years’ imprisonment
- A new offence for preparing or planning to cause death or grievous bodily harm - maximum penalty of up to 14 years, even if no attack takes place or the plan isn’t specific
Changes to licensing and risk assessments
The laws expand the rules around firearm licensing and risk checks:
- Licence applicants generally must be Australian citizens
- Police can consider a wider range of past behaviour, including spent or unrecorded convictions, when assessing risk
- The Firearm Prohibition Order Scheme is expanded with stricter oversight
- Several firearm categories now require solid-steel storage containers
Expanded police powers and intelligence sharing
Police will have new powers to disrupt, not just investigate, serious weapons offending. In practice, this means officers will be able to step in earlier and more proactively, stopping offending before it occurs, rather than waiting for a crime to unfold.
The reforms also broaden information sharing arrangements between Queensland Police and the Australian Defence Force.
How does this compare to the federal laws?
Queensland’s laws have come at the same time the Federal Government has passed new national legislation to address hate motivated and extremist behaviour.
At a federal level, the focus is on criminal offences linked to prohibited hate groups and religious and secular leaders. Queensland’s approach centres on what it defines as prohibited expressions and symbols, behaviour around places of worship, and physical threats. Some protections included at the federal level, such as allowances for quoting religious texts, do not apply under the Queensland laws.
Unlike the national proposal, Queensland’s reforms contain a substantial firearms component.
While the state and federal laws operate separately, both show a move towards earlier intervention in cases involving hate-motivated or behaviour or behaviour authorities classify as extremist-linked behaviour.
These developments are also taking place alongside the work of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which is examining the rise of antisemitism, the circumstances surrounding the Bondi attack, and how authorities respond to hate motivated threats.
What do these laws mean for you?
For most people, the new reforms mean there are now more offences linked to prohibited words, symbols and gestures, as well as stronger laws around firearms and weapons. Places of worship have been given extra legal protections, and firearm licencing authorities now have greater discretion to consider a wide range of risk factors when assessing applications.
The government says the changes will strengthen community safety and give police clearer authority to respond to hate related behaviour. Civil liberty groups say the impact will depend on how the laws are enforced.
What happens next?
The new offences are being rolled out gradually as police, licensing authorities and courts update their systems and processes. Some of the changes are already in place, while others will take longer to fully implement.
For most Queenslanders, these changes won’t affect your daily life. But, people may notice updates in areas like firearms licensing, behaviour around places of worship, and how police respond to certain conduct as agencies transition to the new laws.
The government has also indicated it may review the laws over time, particularly as similar changes at the national level continue to develop. How Queensland’s laws interact with federal laws is expected to become clearer as both systems are tested in practice.
