“Anti-zionism is not anti-semitism” – Robin Taubenfeld, Doykeit spokesperson.
“The fight is for a free Palestine, not about a Free Palestine” – Omar Ashour, Justice for Palestine Magan-djin.
When I was at school in 1964 I worked as a caddy at the St Lucia Golf Course. I would carry the Gulf sticks of doctors and lawyers, the professional class in Brisbane at the time. This elite refused Jews membership of their Golf Club. So too did the Queensland Club. When I became a medical student in 1969, my Jewish friend studying medicine with me said that his father had been excluded from the St Lucia Golf Club even though he was a successful businessman in the rag trade and lived in a house opposite the golf course. That generation of the professional class in Brisbane were anti-semites. So, too, was their political representative, the Liberal Party. The new leader of the Liberal Party, Angus Taylor, comes from that racist political position.
About 175 people turned up at the Speakers Corner outside Queensland Parliament today in humid 35°C heat. We were led by Justice for Palestine spokesperson, Remah Naji, a Muslim Palestinian who challenged the Queensland government’s attempt to prevent solidarity with her people by passing laws against free speech.
The media missed some very good speeches today outside parliament in Brisbane Magan-djin. There was one good impromptu speech by Robin Tobenfeld explaining ‘Doykeit‘ a Yiddish word meaning “hereness.” Robin explained that her ‘Doykeit‘ group are here with the Palestinian people in their struggle against genocide … ‘from the river to the sea‘ is a phrase of liberation.
Robin added that, as descendant of a German Jewish family, that anti-zionism is not anti-semitism. Robin said this is not the first time Queensland has used repression to curtail civil liberties and suppress political movements, she urged vigilance and truth-telling about the ongoing genocide, stating Israel has been occupying Palestine since 1948 long beforee 7 October 23, and concluded that anti-Zionist Jews will stand alongside Palestinian people facing genocide until Palestine is free ‘from the River to the Sea,’ and that the genocide is not in their name.
In contrast to the NSW Rum Corps’ brutality in Sydney on Monday, Queensland coppers took a back seat operating under the constraints of the Queensland Peaceful Assembly Act of 1992, the most liberal assembly laws in Australia fought for 50 years ago..
I asked the police officer-in-charge if he had seen the footage of police assaulting demonstrators in Sydney. The police officer said he had looked at some of the videos. I told him your mob does not look too good’, and he replied, ‘they are not my mob’ they’re New South Wales police. And I replied ‘well I hope ‘you do not copy them‘.
The national broadcaster tried to rationalize police behaviour in Sydney by, as they explained, ‘putting the videos in context’. Shame. To my mind the context video they showed on the ABC made the police behavior look more reprehensible.
Malaak from BDS Magand-jin argued these laws set a violent precedent to criminalize anyone speaking out against genocide or expressing their views. The government laws are a violation of civil free speech rights, Malaak urged the QUT guild, the UQ student union, and the Griffith Student Union to stand by Justice for Palestine, BDS youth Magand-jin, and the Palestinian community by participating in a submission to the Queensland Government against the new draconian laws.
Two proposals supported
The rally resolved to
- Collect signups to the JFP mailing list and send a cheat sheet on how to complete a submission to the Queensland Parliament opposing the proposed draconian laws (as soon as possible to enable submissions by 27 Feb 2026).
- Encourage and coordinate unions, faith groups, community organizations, student unions, journalists, academics, and lawyers to prepare and submit written submissions to the Queensland Parliament opposing the proposed laws.
The way I see the Fighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendment Bill 2026 is designed to suppress the anti-genicide movement in Brisbane. This movement has seen over 100 demonstrations supporting a free Palestine during the past two and a half years. These demonstrations have attracted a significant portion of the population, reaching as many as 50,000 people participating in one protest on a single day.
The legislation is supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and the Queensland Government is complicit by allowing weapons to be manufactured here in Brisbane and sent directly to Israel to destroy Gaza.
When combined with the Commonwealth legislation the intent is to proscribe organizations that actively support the Palestinian people’s right of return from the river to the sea.
Ian Curr
13 February 2026
WRITING A SUBMISSION TO THE QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENTARY JUSTICE, INTEGRITY AND COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE
Regarding the Fighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns Out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendment Bill 2026 (Qld).
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin calls upon all organisations, faith-based groups, unions and community groups, as well as individuals, to make a submission to the parliamentary committee in opposition to this new Bill.
The Bill was introduced to Queensland Parliament by the Crisafulli Government on Tuesday 10th February and will go to a vote in the next sitting week, beginning 3rd March 2026. The relevant parliamentary committee is now receiving submissions from the public on this new Bill.
Submissions must be made by 10am, Tuesday 17th February. The committee will then present its findings, based on these submissions, to parliament on 27th February before the Bill is voted on.
It is essential that the committee receives high quality submissions from organisations that are able to do so, but quantity is just as important – we want to see as many submissions made in opposition to this Bill as possible.
Grounds for rejection of submissions typically only apply where a submission:
is irrelevant or does not address the terms of reference
contains offensive language
may be defamatory
is sub judice or otherwise offends the Standing Orders
is illegible.
This Bill seeks not only to erode the rights of Queenslanders advocating for Palestinian liberation, but is an attack on free speech and freedom of political communication that affects all people residing in this state.
We call on all organisations and individuals, regardless of their proximity to the Palestinian liberation movement, to oppose this Bill.
Provided below are links to the committee webpage which includes the Bill, explanatory notes and other relevant information about the Bill. See also links to information about the submission process and the link to submit your submission.
We have also provided a template submission below, which we encourage organisations to view as a guide and tweak to suit their organisation’s views and objectives.
In Unity & Solidarity,
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin
SUBMISSION INFORMATION & TEMPLATE
Documents relating to the committee’s inquiry, including the Bill, explanatory notes, introductory speech and further information, can be viewed on the committee’s webpage, here:
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=275&id=8564
Information about making a submission to a committee inquiry:
https://qldparlcomm.snapforms.com.au/form/fighting-antisemitism-and-keeping-guns-out-of-the-hands-of-terrorists-and-criminals-amendment-bill-2026
Once you have drafted your submission, submit it via this link. This also contains additional information about your privacy and confidentiality:
https://qldparlcomm.snapforms.com.au/form/fighting-antisemitism-and-keeping-guns-out-of-the-hands-of-terrorists-and-criminals-amendment-bill-2026
SUBMISSION TEMPLATE – You are welcome to use this template as a guide and we encourage you to tweak where possible.
SUBMISSION TEMPLATE
(below)
Name of Organisation
Address (if available)
Email address
About “the organisation”:
(this should be a short paragraph about the organisation’s history, values and/or mission.
Statement of Opposition:
[Organisation] strongly opposes the newly introduced Fighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns Out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendment Bill 2026 in its current form. We unequivocally condemn all forms of genuine racism, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Indigenous and anti-Palestinian racism, and we believe there is no hierarchy in racism. However, we believe this Bill is a dangerous overreach that threatens democratic freedoms, suppresses legitimate political dissent, and disproportionately targets communities advocating for Palestinian human rights.
Key Concerns:
● The Bill severely restricts freedom of political communication which is an implied right in the Australian Constitution.
● The Bill’s scope is broad and creates extraordinary power to prescribe political speech without appropriate democratic scrutiny or oversight. If this isn’t rectified future Queensland Governments may have the ability to abuse this power.
● The explanatory notes seem to conflate antisemitism and legitimate political expression that seeks to educate and advocate for the Palestinian people.
● While the Bill itself does not specify Palestinians, the drafting of the bill and the accompanied media releases expose the disproportionate targeting of members of the Palestinian community and those standing against atrocities committed by the Israeli government. Palestinians are also part of a protected group under international law. The explanatory notes ignore Palestinian Human Rights and the right to self-determination.
● The Bill fails to acknowledge the growing public movement in Queensland in support of Palestinian rights. Addressing this legitimate sentiment with dialogue, rather than measures that seek to silence and erase Palestinian history, is essential for social cohesion.
● The Bill risks the erosion of public trust, therefore deepening division, by disproportionately targeting members of a particular ethnicity.
● The rushed nature of the Bill, with less than a week for public submissions, is an affront to the democratic process. Legislation that so significantly impacts minority groups requires deep consultation, not a rushed Bill that undermines the democratic principles of Australian society.
Conclusion:
[Organisation] has consistently stood with minorities in the face of genuine hate and violence. Contrary to the claims of the Bill, it is not likely to be a successful mechanism that will safeguard the Jewish community but is likely to create further division and erosion of public trust.
The Bill is an overreach of political power and structurally biased. It risks criminalising legitimate political expression, suppressing advocacy for Palestinian rights and undermining civil liberties.
[Organisation] strongly opposes this Bill as an attempt to restrict free speech and create extraordinary powers without proper democratic scrutiny. The Bill must be withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review of its impact on civil liberties, political participation and the rule of law.
We call on the Committee to uphold and defend Australia’s democratic foundations by safeguarding the fundamental right to political communication.
Sign-off:
● the author’s full name
● if the submission is made on behalf of an organisation, the level of approval (e.g. a local branch, executive committee or national organisation), and
● at least two of the following:
○ email address
○ mailing address, and
○ daytime telephone number.