SA government to consider bill that would ban protests at places of worship

The state government will consider banning protests at places of worship as part of a push to combat acts of anti-Semitism.

The state government will consider banning protests at places of worship as part of a push to combat acts of anti-Semitism in South Australia.

The Victorian government on Tuesday unveiled a major plan to crackdown on protests – including the introduction of “protest-free zones” around places of worship – following a series of anti-Semitic incidents across the state.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo will introduce a similar bill to the South Australian parliament in February, after he last month introduced laws banning flags and insignias used by proscribed terrorist organisations.

Under Mr Pangallo’s plan, “buffer zones” of 200m would be established around all “legitimate places of worship” – and protests would not be allowed within that zone.

A minimum penalty of $10,000 would apply for breaches of the law.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo will introduce the new legislation in February.

“People have the right to worship in peace and not be accosted by protesters,” Mr Pangallo said.

“This would also address the strong anti-Semitism that has arisen since the October 7 massacres.

“It’s as bad in South Australia as it is in other states.”

Mr Pangallo said there was also “very strong anti-Christian sentiment” within some parts of the community, and there was a need to protect all worshippers.

“People have a right to peaceful worship and not to be accosted or threatened and intimidated. This bill would have widespread community support,” he said.

“There’s far too much religious hate in the community and no one is doing anything about it.

“I hope that the Malinauskas government would show strong support for this, just as Labor governments have in the eastern states.”

A government spokeswoman said the government has not yet seen Mr Pangallo’s bill, but will review it and form a position after it has been introduced to parliament.

“Anti-Semitism and other forms of religious discrimination have no place in South Australia,” he said.

“Earlier this year, the Malinauskas government passed laws this year to make it an offence to publicly display a Nazi symbol or Nazi salute, with a penalty of $20,000 or 12 months imprisonment.

“These laws send a clear message that the use of these most widely recognised symbols of hate, violence and intolerance to incite division in the community has no place in South Australia.”

Under the Victorian suite of reforms, activists will also be banned from wearing face masks and balaclavas or carrying glue, locks and ropes.

Victorian police will also be given extra powers to stamp out religious hatred at protests, and new laws will strip protesters of the ability to conceal their identities.

The changes follow calls from the Jewish Community Council of Victoria for the “urgent introduction of stronger laws to restrict harmful, intimidating and highly disruptive protests”.

It came after the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in suburban Melbourne last week.