Review: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026

RACS’s submission focuses on a rights-based consideration highlighting the impact of the proposed legislation on the community with whom we work. Our submission therefore focuses on Schedule 2 of the Bill.

RACS considers that Schedule 2 of the Bill, which seeks to expand executive powers and increase the scope of the already broad-reaching character test set out in the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act), does little to meaningfully improve social cohesion or stamp out hatred. Instead, the Bill proposes sweeping and ill-defined powers be vested in the Minister for Home Affairs, the consequences of which raise significant human rights issues for people seeking asylum.

RACS considers that no amendments would appropriately alleviate our concerns with the Bill, and recommend that Schedule 2 of the Bill not be passed in its entirety