AFP: Six could be charged for pro-Hezbollah protest as Dutton calls for new laws to deal with sympathisers

Up to six protesters could face prosecution over their role in weekend rallies which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dubbed “worrying”.

At pro-Palestine rallies in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday, some attendees carried Hezbollah flags and held portraits of the group’s slain leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike on Beirut.

Mr Albanese on Monday warned against importing “radical ideologies and conflict”.

“Our multiculturalism and social cohesion cannot be taken for granted and it’s important that we continue to stress that that is the case as we go forward as well,” Mr Albanese said.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the matter had drawn the “immediate attention” of security agencies, adding that “any indication of support for a terrorist organisation is unequivocally condemned”.

“There is a higher level of scrutiny if anyone is on a visa. I have made clear from day one that I will consider refusing and cancelling visas for anyone who seeks to incite discord in Australia,” he said.

The Australian Federal Police had initially said the “mere public display of a prohibited symbol on its own does not meet the threshold of a Commonwealth offence”, prompting opposition Leader Peter Dutton to call for new legislation to be urgently passed — even if it meant recalling Parliament.

However, the AFP later confirmed it was expecting Victoria Police to refer at least six individuals to the federal agency for potentially breaching terrorism laws.

“The AFP is expecting at least six reports of crime from Victoria Police relating to protests allegedly involving prohibited symbols and chants, that are being investigated by the AFP for potentially breaching Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Act 2023,” an AFP spokeswoman said.

“The AFP has no tolerance for individuals who break the law and will use its extensive capability and networks to take action.

“Matters referred to the AFP will be reviewed to determine if actions reach thresholds to charge under (legislation).”

While displaying prohibited symbols alone is not enough to charge someone, an individual faces up to 12 months behind bars if the symbol is displayed in certain circumstances.

Mr Dutton had earlier said if the actions of the weekend group were not captured in existing laws, Parliament “should be recalled” to pass new legislation.

He said it was “completely unacceptable” that no immediate arrests or moves to act on visas had occurred since the protests, and compared the placards of Nasrallah to glorifying Adolf Hitler or Osama bin Laden.

“There is an absolute outrage in relation to the glorification of a terrorist leader, which surely must be against the Australian law; and if it’s not, the Parliament should be recalled to pass a law that prohibits that from happening,” Mr Dutton said.

“Now, of course, the laws do provide for an offence in that regard, and the law should be enforced.

“I find it completely unacceptable that the Government wouldn’t be arresting people already, or cancelling visas of people who are glorifying Hezbollah and Hamas and others. They have no place in our country.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong warned any indication of support for a terrorist organisation “threatens national security” and fuels fear and division.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher meanwhile accused Mr Dutton of stoking division with his calls for visas to be cancelled.

“He’s all about stoking division and raising tensions and I guess, from our point of view, we want to calm tensions down,” she said.

Speaking about the protesters who held photos of Nasrallah, Mr Dutton had earlier said there would been outrage if photos of Hitler or bin Laden had been shown.

“Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organisation in our country. If we’ve got people here who think that that organisation is okay, and they’re saddened by the death of this terrorist, if they’re on a visa, they should be deported because if we knew about that when they made their visa application, they wouldn’t get a visa to come here in the first place,” he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers also condemned anyone supporting Hezbollah or Hamas.

“These are listed terrorist organisations and I think any support for a terrorist organisation should and will immediately draw the attention of our security agencies. There is a higher level of scrutiny for people who are on a visa,” he said.

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie also called on the Albanese Government to be “grown-ups” and show “some goddamn courage” by expelling visa holders who waved Hezbollah flags or held Nasrallah portraits.

“Turning a blind eye to this stuff, and not holding people responsible, and making sure actions are taken against them, this will continue,” Senator Lambie warned.

“They (the government) want a peaceful country. I suggest they start being grown-ups. They start showing that they’re a leader, and they start showing goddamn courage in this country, and saying, you don’t belong here, you’re getting out, and get them out of here.”