Barnaby Joyce says anti-Semitism laws must explicitly outlaw Islamic extremism as Coalition rebellion brewsAaron PatrickThe NightlyWed, 14 January 2026 9:51AMCommentsCommentsEmail Aaron Patrick
New One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has called for Islamic fundamentalism to be explicitly targeted by the Albanese Government’s anti-Semitism laws, which he said were written to broadly to avoid upsetting Muslim voters.
As a rebellion brewed within the Coalition over the changes, the former Nationals leader complained the new criminal racial vilification offence ignores the primary threat the law is designed to fight because it is based on race, colour, national or ethic origin and does not mention radical Islam.
“We have a clear example of Islamic fundamentalism inspiring the murder of innocent Australians in a public place,” he told The Nightly.
“What we have done not to offend anyone – to offend any person of the Islamic faith – is create this legislation that has this wide remit. We don’t have a problem with Anglican fundamentalism or Buddhist fundamentalism or Hundi fundamentalism or Catholic fundamentalism or atheistic fundamentalism.
“Otherwise there is a presumption that there is evilness presiding in all places, and that’s ridiculous.”
In the Coalition, Nationals senator Matt Canavan compared another part of the changes, the planned banning of the neo-nazi National Socialist Network and the Islamist group Hizb-ut Tahrir, to the failed attempt to outlaw the Australian Communist Party in 1951 by the then Liberal-National government. That move came to be seen by most historians as an government overreach driven by paranoia.
“These laws are a shoddy and rushed affront to democracy and free speech,” Senator Canavan wrote on social media Wednesday morning.
South Australian Liberal senator Alex Antic said he would vote against the changes, which became public Tuesday. “We have enough laws on the books in this country as it is,” he told Andrew Bolt on Sky News.
West Australian Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, who did not respond to a request for comment, has said he might vote against the proposed changes too.
No Christian protections
Under Liberal leader Sussan Ley, the Opposition called for laws to protect the Jewish community almost immediately after the December 14 terrorist attack.
While Opposition leaders have said they want the new laws passed at a special sitting of Parliament next week, the concerns raised by some backbenchers demonstrates that the Coalition is split over laws that would criminalise some forms of speech and potentially force extremist activists underground.
One of Senator Canavan’s complaints is that it will become illegal to intimidate people on the basis of race, including Jews, but the protection will not extend to Christians, Muslims or other religions. “What amounts to ‘intimidation’ is not defined,” he said.
The first published political poll of the year, conducted by Demos AU for Capital Brief, estimated Pauline Hanson’s One Nation’s support at 23 per cent, the same as the Liberal-National Coalition.
The poll raised concerns among Opposition MPs that Ms Ley has been unable to increase their support despite widespread criticism of Anthony Albanese following the attack.
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