TV interview with Minister Butler, Sunrise – 19 December 2025

MONIQUE WRIGHT, HOST: Let's bring in Health Minister Mark Butler and Jane Hume now, who's the Liberal Senator for Victoria. Good morning to you both. Mark, let's start with you. Okay, there are five changes to laws that are proposed. What are they?
 
MARK BUTLER, MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING, MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND THE NDIS: Before I go through the five elements, Monique, the key job here really is to have a legal regime that captures these preachers and leaders who've been spewing hatred. For years now, governments of both political persuasions have tried to shut down this hatred and shut down the organisations that employ them. But these preachers push right up against the legal limits. What we're doing is introducing the toughest laws against hate speech ever to shut down this speech, to shut down the organisations that employ them and  if appropriate, kick them out of the country. We'll be introducing an aggravated hate speech offence that particularly targets these preachers and leaders, increase penalties for that hate speech, making this sort of hate speech an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing, developing a regime for listing the organisations that employ these preachers that spew this hatred, and also developing a federal offence really based on serious vilification that is grounded in racial superiority. On our advice, this is the most comprehensive way in which we can shut down this hate speech that for too long has been coming out of these organisations without legal penalty.
 
WRIGHT: Okay, Jane, are you going to support these changes?
 
JANE HUME, LIBERAL SENATOR: We do support the changes that the Government is making and we'd like to look at them immediately. That's why we're saying we'd like to recall Parliament. Sussan Ley has come out and said that Anthony Albanese has taken too long and it's too little and it's too late. That's why we need action now. We want to make sure that all of the recommendations of the special envoy into anti-Semitism are implemented and implemented immediately. But we also want to see strengthening of our counterterrorism laws, filling in those legislative gaps that our counterterrorism authorities are telling us that they need. We want to make sure too that we're strengthening our universities. There's hate speech on universities. We're stamping out antisemitism there. We want to stop the return of ISIS brides. Labor's policy that's allowing the self-management of the return of ISIS brides by aid agencies without oversight by Government. There is so much more that we can be doing here. The most important one, though, is to allow us to strip citizenship from dual citizens that are preaching hate or terrorism. We want to make sure that anybody that is preaching hate or terrorism, or inflicting terrorism on Australian soil is either sent back to their own country or if they are Australian citizens and only Australian citizens that they feel the full force of the law. That's why we want to return Parliament immediately because quite frankly, Mon, if we're not looking after our Australian citizens, if by Australia Day Jewish Australians and indeed all Australians are not feeling safe and protected, well, we've failed in our duty.
 
WRIGHT: Absolutely. Okay, just on that, Mark, I understand that the Departments of Home Affairs and Attorneys General are going to be working through this period to try and get these laws right, and you'll recall Parliament. Just a quick answer there, is that happening?
 
BUTLER: Parliament will consider these laws when they're ready. Jane knows these are complex laws. Frankly, if they weren't difficult to draft we would have them in place, would have had them years and years ago. Governments of both political persuasions have been trying to get these laws right, but the lawyers who advise these preachers help them go right to the limit. What we've got to do is get these right once and for all. The Prime Minister said yesterday, Parliament will be recalled as soon as those laws are ready. It's not going to be tomorrow, it's not going to be next week, but as soon as they are ready. We want to talk with the opposition to get their support for these laws. Bipartisanship on something like this is really crucial. It will happen as soon as possible.
 
WRIGHT: We understand that there's also going to be an announcement today, perhaps tomorrow, on gun law reform as well. Look, finally, before we let you both go, it has been the toughest of weeks, the most horrific of weeks. And we just wanted to end on your Christmas message. Both of your Christmas messages to everybody who is out there watching at home needs a bit of hope. Jane?
 
HUME: Yes, we do need hope and we do need joy. And I do wish all Australians that opportunity in the next few days to find that hope and joy. Hug a child, put your hand on the hand of an older Australian, say something nice for that sibling that drives you nuts, say thank you to those around you and enjoy their company. Can I just say, though, thank you to Sunrise for spreading your messages of joy and hope. And, Mark, I've had such fun working with you over the last few months. I hope you have a terrific Christmas with your lovely family.
 
WRIGHT: That's really lovely. Mark?
 
BUTLER: Same to you, Jane. And I repeat that message. Hug your family and love your neighbour because life is precious. We've been reminded of that so tragically over the course of this week. And the tolerant society that we love is also fragile. So, love your neighbour, but also spend some time with your precious family over the coming week.
 
WRIGHT: Well, we from Sunrise wish you both the best of Christmases. And thank you so much. We love the robust, constructive conversations we have on this programme Thank you both.
 
HUME: Thanks, Mon.