Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith SC today called on John Hatzistergos to stop dragging his heels and follow up Labor’s pre-election tough talk on terrorism by adopting the Australian Government’s proposed changes to the Classification Act 1995. 

"It’s time for John Hatzistergos to follow up Labor’s pre-election tough talk on terrorism and act now to change the Classification Act 1995 and protect the community," Mr Smith said.

"This is another case of Labor's rhetoric on community safety not matching its actions," he said.

"In January, just a few months before the state election, Morris Iemma called for action against Sheikh Feiz Mohammed’s inflammatory DVD. Well, it’s no good to criticise the Federal Government when you refuse to act in your own backyard."

"While the Australian Government is proposing action to prohibit material that advocates acts of terrorism the Attorney General John Hatzistergos wants to wait till July."

“Labor need to stop sitting on its hands and start working with the Federal Attorney General to stop this offensive material."

“It’s time for Labor to stand up and protect common decency and put an end to this material that all Australians, including Islamic-Australians, would find disgusting and deplorable."

“The Australian Government has proposed a 'zero-tolerance' approach to terrorism, with reasonable changes to the Classification Act 1995, which would expressly require material that contains depictions and/or descriptions that 'advocate' terrorist acts to be refused classification."

“These changes would give governments the power to stop hateful and offensive material – condemning Sheikh Feiz Mohammed’s vulgar DVD to the bin."

“John Hatzistergos needs to stop sitting on his hands and work with the Australian Government to protect the community and remove this vile and offensive material from the shelves,” Mr Smith concluded.