Push to strengthen hate crime laws and tackle threats

Threatening or urging violence against Australians from marginalised communities could become an offence as the government attempts to tackle hate crimes.

A Senate committee report on proposed laws to combat hate crimes and promote community respect has recommended Australia establish a national hate crimes database and expand criminal offences.

"While current laws criminalise acts of violence against targeted groups, and in its most extreme form, acts of terrorism, this bill would criminalise threats of such violence," committee chair Nita Green said in the report, released on Thursday.

"This is an important and timely step."

There were concerns the bill would limit free speech, but the committee said it was satisfied it "does not suppress freedom of speech that is not violent or forceful".

Hate speech laws are in the spotlight amid escalating fears people could be killed in anti-Semitic attacks.

Federal police are confident they are closing in on those responsible for inciting fear in Jewish communities, but critics say they have acted too slowly.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton laid the blame for rising anti-Semitism at the feet of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who he accused of setting the "tone" by failing to stand up to it.

"No wonder these people keep pushing the lines now to the point where we're seeing cars and properties graffitied and firebombed, and now the synagogue as well," Mr Dutton told 2GB Sydney on Thursday.

"There is going to be somebody killed at some point, or somebody who is going to be very seriously injured if this continues."

Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism Jillian Segal said a lack of accountability had set a "tone of permissiveness".

There were no serious penalties for people displaying terrorist symbols and committing anti-Semitic acts, she said.

Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said prosecuting the display of a prohibited terrorist symbol was more than proving someone had waved a flag.

She said federal police had been working on evidence that would reach the burden of proof required for a successful prosecution following investigations into the waving of flags at a pro-Palestinian rally.

"We have had a lot of back and forth with the (Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions) about the evidence," Ms Barrett told ABC Radio.

"We are confident we are close on at least three matters.

"I know this can be frustrating for the community but I want to make sure that we have the best chance of a successful prosecution because that will be the strongest deterrent."

Hate laws needed to be strengthened if they were not adequate to prosecute, Ms Segal said.

The special envoy called for an end to pro-Palestinian demonstrations taking over cities, saying they could be held elsewhere, and said universities needed to do more to make Jewish students feel safer on campus.

Anti-Semitism at universities was being investigated at parliamentary committee hearings on Thursday, with representatives from major tertiary institutions and departmental officials giving evidence.

Ms Segal previously told the inquiry universities were a "cauldron of anti-Semitism".

Minister for Youth Anne Aly called for Australians to support the Jewish community, which was feeling unsafe, the same way they had supported Muslims fearful in the wake of the Christchurch attack.

"When it happened to the Muslim community, it hurt us," she told ABC Radio.

"Remember how the community came together after Christchurch?

"Remember that there is strength in community - remember there is strength in reaching out to each other."

The Australian Human Rights Commission is looking into the impact of racism at universities, with some institutions suggesting it was a more appropriate avenue for action given a probe should include all forms of religious intolerance.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism had dramatically increased.

Racism poured out when there were ruptures in society, he said, adding the way it was tackled was disjointed and ad hoc.

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