Can legislation stop hatred?

A landmark report into Islamophobia has urged the government to introduce religious freedom legislation and punish anti-Muslim activity, which – like anti-Semitism – has soared since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023. 

The official envoy on Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, says verbal and physical attacks on Muslim Australians are up 500 percent in the past two years.

 But can you legislate against hatred, if it falls short of violence? 

Can you also regulate the way people speak about any religion? 

GUEST:

• Professor Luke McNamara University of NSW - on hate speech at the Sydney Writers Festival