‘Racist’ SMS to be federal crime in Oz

 Australia is planning to crack down on hate crimes by making incitement of racial hatred, such as through SMS, a federal crime. The measure is being seen as a firm response to the outcry over attacks on Indian students. 

Simultaneously, the government of the state of Victoria, whose capital Melbourne has witnessed a wave of racial attacks on Indians in recent months, is initiating legislation to make racial hatred and prejudice an aggravating factor when sentencing an attacker. 
Both measures are significant in that they will target those who incite violent attacks against overseas students because of their race or nationality, not just the perpetrators of the physical violence.

The federal government has set up a special taskforce to deal with the proposal relating to racially inflammatory incitement to violence. 

Attorney-General Robert McClelland told parliament this week the government was “examining the possibility of amending” an existing provision in the federal law that makes it an offence to incite violence against people for their race, religion or ethnicity.