<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has justified rushing </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-politics-new-laws-to-punish-intentionally-inciting-racial-hatred-with-jail-time/e301dc06-72db-4385-84ab-8acdae492044" rel="" target="_blank" title="new hate speech laws "><span>new hate speech laws</span></a><span> through parliament after the state endured a "summer of racism".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Controversial hate speech and religious worship laws were passed in February aimed at curbing the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/antisemitic-attacks-a-timeline-of-australias-escalating-antisemitic-attacks-sydney-melbourne/db4e44ac-9988-4891-9dfc-bb449e877cb4" rel="" target="_blank" title="spate of antisemitic attacks across NSW."><span>spate of antisemitic attacks across NSW.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The new laws introduced a maximum penalty of two years in prison or fines up to $11,000 for inciting racial hatred following incidents of Nazi symbols and antisemitic slurs graffitied on homes, cars and synagogues in Sydney.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/probe-looking-into-deaths-of-water-polo-coach-lilie-james-and-partner-sydney/b441768b-09c0-4f90-a14a-1b4942f12cd1" target="_blank"><strong><span>Ex-lover 'carefully planned' water polo coach's murder at school</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There have been calls for Minns to face an inquiry over whether he misled the public and parliament after the laws were pushed through following the Dural caravan plot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The laws passed parliament shortly after the explosive-laden caravan, which was later revealed to be part of a hoax, was found.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minns today defended the laws and said they were justified in light of the recent string of antisemitic attacks.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-premier-chris-minns-defends-rushing-hate-speech-laws-into-parliament-summer-of-racism/5306cf95-fb2a-4ff6-a47a-46fb71495c98" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I introduced those laws because there'd been a summer of racism in NSW," he told media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Separate and aside to the police operation related to (Operation) Kissinger and the caravan out at Dural, it's just inarguably the case we saw a shameful summer and the hate speech laws we introduced were absolutely necessary to send a message that we won't tolerate it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minns and NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley have been questioned needled over when they knew the caravan found with explosives in Sydney's north-west was not a legitimate terrorist threat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/surfers-report-feeling-infected-as-yellow-foam-washes-up-on-popular-beach/40aec73e-ec1d-4d43-9bcc-7861228d6736" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Deadly' sea foam infects more than 100 surfers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/israel-hamas-israel-says-it-is-carrying-out-extensive-strikes-in-gaza/87f29738-69a1-464a-adad-c2152cff80ad" target="_blank"><strong><span>Gaza truce shatters as Israel carries out 'extensive' strikes</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During budget estimates last week, Catley refused to answer questions about when she knew the caravan plot was a "con job".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The police minister declined to reveal when she found out, citing community safety.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On the same day, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed last week he had been aware of the truth behind the caravan plot "for some time".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Are you aware that in the last 50 minutes, even the prime minister has stood up and said he's been aware for some time. Why can you not do that?" Greens MLC Sue Higginson asked.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Because I'm not going to," Catley replied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The opposition has also said it supports a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the caravan timeline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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