HATE symbols and terror offences in Australia will now be subject to mandatory prison terms, MPs agreed on Thursday.

The new laws, which could bring prison terms ranging from one to six years, follow a wave of high profile anti-semitic attacks across the country.

Under the new laws, displaying hate symbols or performing a Nazi salute is now punishable by at least one year in prison. Other penalties include a minimum of three years for financing terrorism and six years for committing or planning terrorist acts.

In the past, the ruling Labour Party has opposed mandatory prison sentences on the grounds that they do not reduce crime, undermine the independence of courts and are often applied in a discriminatory way.

Liberal Senator James Paterson accused the government of having to be “dragged kicking and screaming to finally introduce tough legislation.”

Performing the Nazi salute and displaying Nazi symbols, such as the swastika, have been banned since last year and carry a maximum one-year in prison term. The new law makes the prison term mandatory.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the new law was about whether Parliament believed it was acceptable to advocate, threaten or commit violence against another person because of who they are, who they pray to or who they love.