April 24, 2026 — Equality Australia has welcomed the recommendations of a NSW inquiry that found LGBTIQ+ people are among the communities targeted by right-wing extremism, alongside Jewish communities, women and other minority groups. 

The report, handed down yesterday, found that right-wing extremism is rooted in prejudice, including homophobia and transphobia, as well as antisemitism, racism and misogyny.  

It also notes these forms of hate are not isolated, but are actively promoted, normalised and amplified through online platforms and extremist networks that seek to recruit and radicalise individuals. 

“Importantly, the inquiry makes clear that LGBTIQ+ people are deliberately targeted within extremist narratives that seek to normalise hate in public discourse,” said Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown. 

“It also recognises that addressing extremism requires more than law enforcement — it must include action on the social drivers that enable it.” 

The report emphasises that prevention and early intervention are critical to addressing the rise of extremism in NSW, alongside stronger community-based responses. 

“We were pleased to see our submissions reflected in the report, and LGBTIQ+ people explicitly recognised among communities targeted by hate and extremism,” Ms Brown said. 

“This is an important acknowledgement of the scale and impact of anti-LGBTIQ+ hate within broader extremist activity in NSW. 

“The NSW Government must act to ensure that LGBTIQ+ people and other targeted communities are safer, better supported and no longer exposed to preventable harm.” 

Key recommendations include:  

• Funding community reporting services for hate crimes experienced by LGBTIQ+ people and other targeted communities  

• Investing in early intervention and prevention programs that are co-designed with affected communities  

• Expanding disengagement and support services for individuals at risk of radicalisation  

• Strengthening efforts to address online extremist content, including its removal and the impact of algorithmic amplification  

• Introducing and strengthening school-based education programs that address discrimination, including homophobia and transphobia alongside other forms of prejudice  

• Expanding coordinated approaches to prevention, including in regional and rural communities  

“We are seeing an alarming rise in often violent, targeted attacks against LGBTIQ+ people, driven by a dangerous and deeply entrenched form of hatred,” Ms Brown said. 

“These recommendations reflect a clear understanding that hate and extremism are driven by broader systems of discrimination and exclusion. They must now be implemented in full.” 

“This is not an issue that affects only one community. When hate goes unchecked, it undermines safety, cohesion and trust for everyone.” 

For more information, read the final report here.