NSW Ban on Symbols for Prohibited Organisations and New Laws for State-Sponsored Terrorism

Crimes Amendment (Prohibited Organisation Symbols) Bill 2026

15 Sep 2026: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

hate slogans national security police powers prohibited organisations terrorism violent extremism

Introduced by: Michael Daley MP (ALP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

the offence of displaying prohibited organisation symbols now applies to any prohibited organisation — not only those officially designated as terrorist organisations
police can direct a person they reasonably suspect of displaying a prohibited symbol to stop doing so, and failure to comply is an offence
the offence is tried in the Local Court (summarily) unless the prosecution elects to take it to a higher court
NSW counter-terrorism laws are extended to cover state sponsors of terrorism and state terrorist acts, as newly defined in Commonwealth law

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Hugh McDermott ALP

“These symbols are instruments of intimidation. They are used to recruit, terrorise and signal, in public spaces, that organisations committed to violence and hatred are present and active in our community.”

Official source →

Matt Cross LIB

“I support the Crimes Amendment (Prohibited Organisation Symbols) Bill 2026 and feel it is very important to make a contribution to debate. Let me be clear: The display of symbols of hate groups and/or State-sponsored terrorism should be banned, because those symbols are intended to incite acts of violence and terrorism. It is so important that people are held to account for their behaviour.”

Official source →

Edmond Atalla ALP

“I support the Crimes Amendment (Prohibited Organisation Symbols) Bill 2026. This legislation reflects the Government’s responsibility to keep the people of New South Wales safe. It does so by ensuring that our laws remain consistent with Commonwealth frameworks and capable of responding to evolving threats.”

Official source →

Michael Daley ALP

“The Crimes Amendment (Prohibited Organisation Symbols) Bill 2026 introduces a suite of amendments to strengthen the legislative response to extremism, including broadening the offence of displaying a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol under section 93ZB to also capture symbols used by state sponsors of terrorism and prohibited hate groups that are formally listed.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Crimes Amendment (Prohibited Organisation Symbols) Bill 2026

Mr MICHAEL DALEY, Attorney General — 2026-03-18

The bill introduces a suite of amendments that build on previous reforms introduced by the Minns Government to enhance the legislative response to antisemitism and extremism, in particular, the new offence of displaying a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol under section 93ZB. Section 93ZB was introduced in December 2025 in the immediate aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror attack. Changes to Commonwealth legislation made in January mean that it is necessary to make consequential amendments to the language used in section 93ZB.