Jess Wilson vows to ban ‘Globalise the intifada’ phrase if elected

Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson has pledged to criminalize the slogan “globalise the intifada” if her party secures victory in the upcoming November state election. Wilson announced the policy commitment on Sunday at a public event in Caulfield, asserting that the phrase constitutes incitement to violence against the Jewish community. She stated that her government would expand existing incitement laws to specifically target the slogan, mirroring legislative actions recently taken in neighboring states. The announcement took place at the Caulfield Shule, a hub within Melbourne’s Jewish community, during the launch of the book Bondi Terror. The publication was authored by Alex Ryvchin, chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, and Sharri Markson, a host for News24. Addressing a large audience, Wilson described the current climate of antisemitism in Australia as normalized since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. She characterized this shift as a deeply disturbing reflection of the nation’s societal direction. Wilson drew a direct causal link between pro-Palestinian protests and the fatal attack at Bondi Beach in December 2025, where fifteen people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration. She argued that government tolerance of hateful rhetoric, including phrases such as “All Zionists are terrorists” and “globalise the intifada,” on streets, universities, and online platforms directly resulted in the Bondi tragedy. Consequently, she declared that her administration would broaden bans on speech deemed incitement to violence. The term “intifada” derives from Arabic and translates to “uprising” or “to shake off.” Historically, the word has referred to both campaigns of Palestinian civil disobedience and periods of armed resistance involving attacks on Israeli civilians. The interpretation of the modern slogan remains highly contested. Many pro-Israel Jewish organizations maintain that the phrase serves as a call for violence against Jewish people. Conversely, Palestinian activists and their allies reject this characterization, arguing the slogan represents a demand for liberation and international solidarity against occupation. Proponents of the ban point to its frequent usage during weekly pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Melbourne’s central business district over the past three years. Wilson noted that the presence of these chants has deterred families and members of the Jewish community from entering the CBD on weekends. She emphasized the need to lower tensions, stating that the current situation is intolerable. Queensland provides the primary precedent for this proposed legislation. In March 2026, the Queensland government enacted laws prohibiting the slogans “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada.” These measures classify the phrases as antisemitic hate speech, carrying a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. Since the implementation of these laws, authorities have charged more than twenty individuals for their use of the prohibited terms. Legal challenges to the Queensland statutes are currently underway. A coalition of pro-Palestinian protesters has filed a case in the High Court of Australia to contest the constitutionality of the bans. Leading constitutional experts, including Professor Anne Twomey, have warned that such restrictions on specific political slogans may violate the implied freedom of political communication protected under the Australian Constitution. Twomey submitted evidence to a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry suggesting that courts are likely to strike down these bans, even if the slogans offend or damage social cohesion. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns indicated his intention to adopt similar prohibitions in his state, contingent upon the Queensland laws surviving the High Court review. A prior NSW parliamentary inquiry, initiated following the Bondi massacre, recommended banning the phrase only when it is explicitly used to incite hatred, harassment, intimidation, or violence. Critics view Wilson’s pledge as part of a broader trend of suppressing free speech regarding the Palestinian conflict. Hiba Farra, vice president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, described the move as a concerning restriction on expression. She explained that the slogan calls for supporting Palestinians through non-violent methods, including protests, boycotts, and diplomatic pressure. Farra stated that the phrase metaphorically seeks to extend the Palestinian struggle globally to build solidarity against what she termed oppression, apartheid, and illegal occupation. Earlier this year, former Australian of the Year Grace Tame faced significant backlash from Jewish leaders, federal parliamentarians, and the NSW premier after leading chants of the phrase at a rally in Sydney in February. Despite the ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding the constitutionality of such bans, Wilson maintained her position that the phrase lacks justification in public demonstrations and must be addressed through legislative reform to protect community safety.