A senior US State Department official, Sarah Rogers, has criticized Australia's proposed new hate speech laws, describing the bill as "clumsy" and predicting potential "deeply perverse outcomes." Rogers, the under secretary of state for public diplomacy, expressed concerns that the legislation could exempt extremists while penalizing legitimate opinions.
Rogers' comments followed a post on X by Australian activist Drew Pavlou, who highlighted a clause in the bill granting an exemption to individuals quoting directly from religious texts. Pavlou characterized this as a "special carve out" that could allow Muslim extremists to preach hate if they argue they are directly referencing the Koran.
In response, Rogers questioned the intent of such a statute, stating that a law imprisoning individuals for criticizing extremists but providing safe harbor to extremists themselves would be "deeply perverse." She also noted a broader issue with "hate speech" laws, suggesting they are often enforced in ways that may protect violent zealots. Additionally, Rogers expressed concern that protecting only religious speech while criminalizing secular counter-arguments could distort public discourse.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the religious exemption by referring to the Old Testament, implying that without it, someone reading from that document could violate the proposed laws. However, he acknowledged the government's aim to avoid unintended consequences and stated the legislation has been referred to a committee for review.
A spokesperson for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland responded to Rogers' comments, stating the Australian government's proposed laws seek to balance cracking down on hate speech with upholding freedom of speech and religion. The government is currently consulting broadly on the legislation to ensure it is implemented correctly.
The proposed laws are intended to combat antisemitism and other forms of hatred, following a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in December 2025 that targeted Jewish individuals.
Some Coalition figures within Australia have echoed Rogers' concerns. Western Australian MP Ben Small stated the exemption could enable Islamist preachers to spread hate while hindering criticism of radical Islam. Small argued the legislation fails to make it harder for radical Islam to spread in Australia.