February 18, 2025 - Equality Australia says LGBTIQ+ communities in NSW will remain vulnerable to hate speech and the harm it causes after Premier Chris Minns failed to expand his racial hatred reforms to include everyone in need of protection. 

The Bill introduced to NSW Parliament on Tuesday includes a new criminal offence for intentionally inciting racial hatred, with a maximum penalty of two years in jail, in response to recent hate speech and antisemitism.  

"Hatred of any kind, whether racially motivated or otherwise, should have no place in our society and it’s bitterly disappointing that LGBTIQ+ people have been cruelly overlooked in this bill,” said Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown. 

“Queer communities have long histories of abuse, bashings and harassment, and we know very well what it’s like to fear for our safety. 

"It’s no less disgraceful to yell vile abuse at a young trans person, to deface a Mardi Gras poster with homophobic slurs or to activate online campaigns of terror against rainbow families.” 

Ms Brown welcomed the announcement of a 6-month review into how protections could be expanded to other vulnerable communities. 

“This review is welcome but only if it leads to widening the protections to cover every vulnerable minority in NSW,” she said. 

“It’s simply a matter of fairness and basic humanity to make sure the law protects all communities that are being targeted by hate.” 

Media contact: Tara Ravens, tara.ravens@equalityaustralia.org.au, 0408 898 154