CONTESTED GROUND: Australia’s efforts to combat extremism, anti-Semitism, and balance freedom

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By: Noemie Veñegas

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Steve Kuper discuss the Australian government’s legislative efforts to combat anti-Semitism, hatred, and violent extremism in Australia.

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Steve Kuper discuss the Australian government’s legislative efforts to combat anti-Semitism, hatred, and violent extremism in Australia.

The trio unpack the legislative proposal and political considerations that have shaped the Albanese government’s Combating Anti-Semitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, developed in the aftermath of the terrorist shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Sydney, which resulted in at least 15 deaths and over 40 injuries on 14 December 2025.

The trio also discuss the fine line between balancing national security, freedom, protesting and religious liberties as a democracy and the different requests identified by the opposition, Greens and other minor parties ahead of the debate.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground Team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: CONTESTED GROUND: Shipping, supply chains and Australia’s exposure to a volatile system, with UNSW’s Professor Douglas Guilfoyle and Associate Professor Daniel Prior
Episode 10: PODCAST: Military drone racing, FPV integration and warfare trends, with Wing Commander Keirin Joyce
Episode 9: PODCAST: ADF promotions, Middle East aftershocks and dreaded Defence budget cuts
Episode 8: CONTESTED GROUND: Successive governments have failed to prepare Australia for the era of polycrisis, with Marc Ablong PSM, Geostrategic Risk Partners
Episode 7: SPOTLIGHT: Crewed, uncrewed, mass and increasing contemporary maritime combat capabilities, with Kevin ‘Q’ Quarderer of Leidos Australia and MAJGEN (Ret’d) Mick Ryan
Episode 6: PODCAST: Fleet readiness, future warfare and Australia’s naval strategy, with Commodore Antony Pisani
Episode 5: THE PROGRESS REPORT: Direct hit over Baghdad – the pilot who outflew a surface-to-air missile
Episode 4: SPOTLIGHT: Subs may be the centrepiece – but infrastructure, workforce and sovereign capability will decide the outcome, with Stantec’s Chris Waywell, Rob Sansbury and Robert Fogel
Episode 3: CONTESTED GROUND: Apathy, complacency and the ‘Lucky Country’, Australia’s predicament is entirely self-inflicted, with Ben Dullroy
Episode 2: SPECIAL EDITION PODCAST: 125 years of the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army