Hate symbols and terror offences will be punishable with mandatory jail terms ranging from one to six years in Australia, after parliament passed a series of amendments to hate crime laws on Thursday.

The new laws were passed following a wave of high-profile antisemitic attacks which have become a major topic of debate in the country.

The amendments have been described by the government as the “toughest laws Australia has ever had against hate crimes”.

But critics say that the governing Labor Party is caving to opposition demands and going against its own policy of opposing mandatory jail sentences.