← All decisions

1. What was proposedMichael PetterssonLabor · Minister
   Read the original wording (400 words)

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) on 26 January 2026, anti-immigration rallies were held in Canberra and across Australia; (b) the rallies were used to promote messages of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia; (c) following alleged antisemitic conduct at the “March for Australia” rally in Sydney, a man has been charged with a criminal offence under new hate speech enacted by the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025 (NSW); (d) in what is being investigated as a potential terror attack, a bomb was thrown into a peaceful “Invasion Day” rally in Perth, also on 26 January 2026; (e) this conduct is not isolated, it is enabled through racist and xenophobic messaging promoted at events like “March for Australia” rallies and is a continued and visible demonstration of extremist ideologies that threaten the cohesion and safety of our community; (f) demonstrations of hatred have been seen in Canberra, including attacks on places of worship and through distribution of racist, white supremacist materials in our suburbs; and (g) this Assembly has unanimously called on all Members to condemn the anti- immigration sentiment expressed at a previous “March for Australia” rally; (2) acknowledges: (a) the importance of multiculturalism and the significant benefits that Canberra’s cultural and linguistic diversity bring to our community; (b) the vast majority of Canberrans reject extremist ideologies and value the contributions that our multiculturalism brings to our community; (c) the Government is working to prevent further harm coming to our community, both through the efforts of ACT Policing in collaboration with federal intelligence agencies, as well as through early interventions for those who may be susceptible to extremist ideologies; (d) the right to peaceful protest, as demonstrated at Canberra’s “Invasion Day” rally that was also held on 26 January 2026, should be protected; (e) the Government has committed to review hate crime and vilification laws; (f) that repairing social cohesion and countering extremist narratives requires both legislative and non-legislative responses; and (g) that it is therefore incumbent on community leaders, including elected representatives, to unequivocally call out hatred and messages that are contrary to the values of our Canberra community; and (3) calls on: (a) all Members to condemn the anti-immigrant, racist and xenophobic messaging advanced at anti-immigration rallies, including the “March for Australia” rally held on 26 January 2026; and (b) the Government to introduce legislation to strengthen hate crime and vilification laws in 2026.

2. Proposed changeChiaka BarryLiberal · Opposition5 February 2026

   Grouped by key words as: rewrote the proposal, turned an action into a review.

   The exact wording of this change

   Omit all text after “That this Assembly”, substitute: “(1) notes that: (a) this Assembly has previously noted and Members have and continue to unanimously condemn the rise in racism and violence being played out during public demonstrations, and the increase in racially and religiously motivated violence against individuals, communities, community organisations and community facilities; (b) there is broad consensus that there needs to be an appropriate balance between the right to express an opinion, including the right to peacefully protest, and the importance of ensuring there are appropriate protections in place to ensure that freedom of expression is not abused; (c) in the ACT, we are fortunate to have the Discrimination Act 1991, which at sections 65 to 67 provide civil and criminal penalties for racial vilification; (d) in 2025, NSW passed the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act; and (e) the ACT Government has committed to review hate crime and vilification laws; (2) acknowledges: (a) the importance of multiculturalism, and the significant benefits that Canberra’s culture and linguistic diversity bring to our community; (b) that the vast majority of Canberrans reject extremist ideologies and value the contributions that our multiculturalism brings to our community; and (c) that the work to prevent further harm coming to our community, involves collaboration across jurisdictions and political differences, to demonstrate clear expectations and reflect Australian values; and (3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) review the Discrimination Act 1991 as it relates to hate crimes to determine: (i) whether it remains fit for purpose; and (ii) whether there are any lessons learned from more recent legislative processes such as the NSW Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act, that can be adapted to improve the ACT legislation; (b) ensure that alI Members of this Assembly are consulted at the drafting stage of any potential legislative reform process, to ensure that by our behaviour, we model the Australian values of respectful disagreement that we are seeking to encourage in the broader community; and (c) aspire to achieve unanimous support for any legislative change, that appropriately balances the right of free speech with appropriate protection from incitement and racial vilification.”.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

3. Change to Chiaka Barry's changeMichael PetterssonLabor · Minister5 February 2026

   Grouped by key words as: put back earlier wording, changed the background.

   The exact wording of this change

   to Ms Barry’s amendment, together: 1. After paragraph (1)(e), insert: “(f) on 26 January 2026, anti-immigration rallies were held in Canberra and across Australia; (g) the rallies were used to promote messages of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia; (h) following alleged antisemitic conduct at the ‘March for Australia’ rally in Sydney, a man has been charged with a criminal offence under new hate speech laws enacted by the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025 (NSW); and (i) a bomb was thrown into a peaceful ‘Invasion Day’ rally in Perth on 26 January 2026 in what authorities have declared to be a terrorist attack;”. 2. After paragraph (3) add: “(4) calls on all Members to condemn the anti-immigrant, racist and xenophobic messaging advanced at anti-immigration rallies, including the ‘March for Australia’ rally held on 26 January 2026.”. Debate continued.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

4. Change to Michael Pettersson's changeAndrew BraddockGreens · Crossbench5 February 2026

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point.

   The exact wording of this change

   to Mr Pettersson’s amendment to Ms Barry’s amendment: In paragraph (1)(i), omit “Invasion Day”, substitute “Survival Day”. Debate continued. Mr Braddock, by leave, withdrew his amendment to Mr Pettersson’s amendment to Ms Barry’s amendment.

   Outcome not captured.

5. Change to Michael Pettersson's changeChiaka BarryLiberal · Opposition5 February 2026

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point.

   The exact wording of this change

   to Mr Pettersson’s amendment to her amendment: In paragraph (4), add “and to condemn antisemitism”.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

6. Change to Chiaka Barry's changeAndrew BraddockGreens · Crossbench5 February 2026

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point.

   The exact wording of this change

   to Ms Barry’s amendment to Mr Pettersson’s amendment to Ms Barry’s amendment: After “antisemitism”, add: “and Islamophobia”. Debate continued.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

7. What the Assembly decidedAgreed

   Decided on the voices: no individual votes were recorded, so this doesn’t show that every MLA agreed.

   Final agreed wording, with changes marked

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) this Assembly has previously noted and Members have and continue to unanimously condemn the rise in racism and violence being played out during public demonstrations, and the increase in racially and religiously motivated violence against individuals, communities, community organisations and community facilities; (b) there is broad consensus that there needs to be an appropriate balance between the right to express an opinion, including the right to peacefully protest, and the importance of ensuring there are appropriate protections in place to ensure that freedom of expression is not abused; (c) in the ACT, we are fortunate to have the Discrimination Act 1991, which at sections 65 to 67 provide civil and criminal penalties for racial vilification; (d) in 2025, NSW passed the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act; (e) the ACT Government has committed to review hate crime and vilification laws; (f) on 26 January 2026, anti-immigration rallies were held in Canberra and across Australia; (g) the rallies were used to promote messages of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia; (h) following alleged antisemitic conduct at the ‘March for Australia’ rally in Sydney, a man has been charged with a criminal offence under new hate speech laws enacted by the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025 (NSW); and (i) a bomb was thrown into a peaceful ‘Invasion Day’ rally in Perth on 26 January 2026 in what authorities have declared to be a terrorist attackPettersson; (2) acknowledges: (a) the importance of multiculturalism, and the significant benefits that Canberra’s culture and linguistic diversity bring to our community; (b) that the vast majority of Canberrans reject extremist ideologies and value the contributions that our multiculturalism brings to our community; and (c) that the work to prevent further harm coming to our community, involves collaboration across jurisdictions and political differences, to demonstrate clear expectations and reflect Australian values; (3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) review the Discrimination Act 1991 as it relates to hate crimes to determine: (i) whether it remains fit for purpose; and (ii) whether there are any lessons learned from more recent legislative processes such as the NSW Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act, that can be adapted to improve the ACT legislation; (b) ensure that all Members of this Assembly are consulted at the drafting stage of any potential legislative reform process, to ensure that by our behaviour, we model the Australian values of respectful disagreement that we are seeking to encourage in the broader community; and (c) aspire to achieve unanimous support for any legislative change, that appropriately balances the right of free speech with appropriate protection from incitement and racial vilification; and (4) calls on all Members to condemn the anti-immigrant, racist and xenophobic messaging advanced at anti-immigration rallies, including the ‘March for Australia’ rally held on 26 January 2026Pettersson, and to condemn antisemitismBarry and Islamophobia.

   Original and final wording compared

   taken out put in

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) [put in: this Assembly has previously noted and Members have and continue to unanimously condemn the rise in racism and violence being played out during public demonstrations, and the increase in racially and religiously motivated violence against individuals, communities, community organisations and community facilities; (b) there is broad consensus that there needs to be an appropriate balance between the right to express an opinion, including the right to peacefully protest, and the importance of ensuring there are appropriate protections in place to ensure that freedom of expression is not abused; (c) in the ACT, we are fortunate to have the Discrimination Act 1991, which at sections 65 to 67 provide civil and criminal penalties for racial vilification; (d) in 2025, NSW passed the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act; (e) the ACT Government has committed to review hate crime and vilification laws; (f)]on 26 January 2026, anti-immigration rallies were held in Canberra and across Australia; [taken out: (b)][put in: (g)]the rallies were used to promote messages of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia; [taken out: (c)][put in: (h)]following alleged antisemitic conduct at the ‘March for Australia’ rally in Sydney, a man has been charged with a criminal offence under new hate speech [put in: laws]enacted by the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025 (NSW); [taken out: (d) in what is being investigated as a potential terror attack,][put in: and (i)]a bomb was thrown into a peaceful ‘Invasion Day’ rally in Perth [taken out: also]on 26 January 2026 [taken out: (e) this conduct is not isolated, it is enabled through racist and xenophobic messaging promoted at events like “March for Australia” rallies and is a continued and visible demonstration of extremist ideologies that threaten the cohesion and safety of our community; (f) demonstrations of hatred have been seen]in [taken out: Canberra, including attacks on places of worship and through distribution of racist, white supremacist materials in our suburbs; and (g) this Assembly has unanimously called on all Members][put in: what authorities have declared]to [taken out: condemn the anti- immigration sentiment expressed at][put in: be]a [taken out: previous “March for Australia” rally;][put in: terrorist attack;](2) acknowledges: (a) the importance of multiculturalism, and the significant benefits that Canberra’s [taken out: cultural][put in: culture]and linguistic diversity bring to our community; (b) [put in: that]the vast majority of Canberrans reject extremist ideologies and value the contributions that our multiculturalism brings to our community; [put in: and](c) [put in: that]the [taken out: Government is working][put in: work]to prevent further harm coming to our community, [taken out: both through the efforts of ACT Policing in][put in: involves]collaboration [taken out: with federal intelligence agencies, as well as through early interventions for those who may be susceptible to extremist ideologies; (d) the right][put in: across jurisdictions and political differences,]to [taken out: peaceful protest, as demonstrated at Canberra’s “Invasion Day” rally that was also held][put in: demonstrate clear expectations and reflect Australian values; (3) calls]on [taken out: 26 January 2026, should be protected; (e)]the [put in: ACT]Government [taken out: has committed]to: [put in: (a)]review [put in: the Discrimination Act 1991 as it relates to]hate [taken out: crime and vilification laws; (f) that repairing social cohesion][put in: crimes to determine: (i) whether it remains fit for purpose;]and [taken out: countering extremist narratives requires both][put in: (ii) whether there are any lessons learned from more recent]legislative [taken out: and non-legislative responses; and (g)][put in: processes such as the NSW Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act,]that [taken out: it is therefore incumbent on community leaders, including elected representatives,][put in: can be adapted]to [taken out: unequivocally call out hatred and messages][put in: improve the ACT legislation; (b) ensure]that [put in: all Members of this Assembly]are [taken out: contrary][put in: consulted at the drafting stage of any potential legislative reform process,]to [put in: ensure that by our behaviour, we model]the [put in: Australian]values of [taken out: our Canberra][put in: respectful disagreement that we are seeking to encourage in the broader]community; and [taken out: (3)][put in: (c) aspire to achieve unanimous support for any legislative change, that appropriately balances the right of free speech with appropriate protection from incitement and racial vilification; and (4)]calls on [taken out: (a)]all Members to condemn the anti-immigrant, racist and xenophobic messaging advanced at anti-immigration rallies, including the ‘March for Australia’ rally held on 26 January 2026, and [taken out: (b) the Government]to [taken out: introduce legislation to strengthen hate crime][put in: condemn antisemitism]and [taken out: vilification laws in 2026.][put in: Islamophobia.]

   Compared word by word by computer, ignoring punctuation. It shows what differs, not which change made each difference; the steps above show that.