The New South Wales government has introduced new hate speech guidelines for all school staff. These rules make it easier to sack teachers for hate speech, even if it happens outside the classroom or on social media. Premier Chris Minns said these rules respond to gaps in handling hate speech, like after the Bondi beach terror attack. He stated, "If it’s clear to Nesa that there’s been a breach… then sanctions will apply." The rules cover over 3,000 government, independent, and Catholic schools in NSW and are effective immediately. However, some teachers and legal experts worry that the rules could silence discussions about the killing in Gaza. Timothy Roberts, president of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, warned the move might be seen as trying to prevent talk about Palestine in schools. He said, "Schools should be places where students are free to ask difficult questions, and teachers safe to answer them." A report from the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network says anti-Palestinian racism has spread in Australian schools, mainly in NSW and Victoria since October 2023. Some staff members report being mistreated for showing support for Palestine. Chris Breen from Teachers and School Staff for Palestine NSW called the new rules, "a political attack on free speech," claiming they could lead to sacking advocates for Palestine. Minns denied the rules silence free speech, stressing they are against hate, not concern for Gaza civilians. He said, "If you participate in hate speech, even if it’s not on the school grounds, then you’re not the kind of person that we want shaping young minds." The NSW Education Standards Authority (Nesa) will judge if a teacher's actions count as hate speech under section 93ZAA of the NSW Crimes Act. This law makes it a crime to incite racial hatred. Experts like professor Luke McNamara suggest such serious cases should be handled by police and courts, not school authorities. The rules require schools to update their codes of conduct. The NSW Teachers Federation is seeking talks about the rules with education authorities. Meanwhile, Andy Mison, head of the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association, supports policies that help keep schools safe and inclusive, while allowing respectful discussions. The new hate speech guidelines come as the NSW parliament focuses on antisemitism and the response to the Bondi terror attack. Opposition parties have pushed for adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism across universities and public bodies. Premier Minns has not commented on this legislation.