Registration Refusals and Winding Up Powers for Prohibited Hate Groups and Terrorist Organisations
Associations Incorporation Reform Amendment Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
hate groups industrial relations non-profit organizations organizational registration public interest terrorism
Introduced by: The Hon Ingrid Stitt MLC (ALP); The Hon Tim Richardson MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Jade Benham NAT
“To begin this contribution, I will make it very clear that the NationalsandtheLiberalsopposethisbill.To makeanotherthingclear,therearetwopartstothisbill, one which involves incorporated associations that have an industrial relations purpose and a second which involves incorporated associations that are listed as terrorist organisations or prohibited hate groups.”
Lauren Kathage ALP
“What a story from the member for Mildura. I think if youwerewalkingthroughthelibrary,youwouldhavetofindthatintheconspiracyaisle.ButInoticed some key characters missing fromthat story, and they were workers – and workers rights. The whole focus of her time on her feet – I think that was half an hour – was the organisations themselves.”
Nina Taylor ALP
“I want to takealeaf outof thebookof the memberfor Yan Yean. I think starting fromthe premise of thinking about workers first is very important when we are having this discussion about making sure that there is transparency about what the particular organisation can offer to that worker in terms of the protections they are entitled to.”
David Southwick LIB
“I rise to make some comments about the Associations Incorporation Reform Amendment Bill 2026. Just when you think it cannot get any crazier, we have a government, literally just before an election, bring a bill before the Parliament to limit people’s involvementinunionsexcepttheirown.”
“That was quite an interesting contribution. To commence, I will take up the member for Caulfield’s concerns about why the two items are in the same bill. The answer, I am afraid, is much more mundane than the theory posited there, this conspiracy theory. The answer is because it deals with the same legislation, so it makes sense.”
“I rise today to speak on the Associations Incorporation ReformAmendment Bill 2026. This billis whathappens when anewPremier wants to thankhisfactional matesandhelp thembyshuttingdown their competition. TheRetailandFastFood Workers Union, or RAFFWU, was formed in 2016 to fight for the rights of retail and fast-food workers, who are often young, who are often low paid and who are often marginalised.”
Danny Pearson ALP
“I rise in support of this bill. I think this bill plays a really important role in protecting the freedoms of this state. I fear that where we find ourselves now as a Westernliberaldemocracyisaplacethatwehavenotseensincethe1930s.Thefactthatwearetrying to nowprevent these terrorist organisations and hate groups fromregistering is reallyimportant. Why doIfeelsostronglyaboutthis?”
Chris Crewther LIB
“I rise to speak on the Associations Incorporation ReformAmendmentBill2026.Iwillbecleartostartwith:Isupportfirmactionagainstlistedterrorist organisations and prohibited hate groups. Neo-Nazi organisations, terrorist fronts and groups that promotehatred or violenceshould notbe ableto use incorporated status as ashield of legitimacy.”