September 9, 2026 — Equality Australia has welcomed landmark recommendations to tackle anti-LGBTIQ+ hate crime in Victoria, calling on state and federal governments to act on the inquiry’s findings and address the scale and devastating impact of hate.

The report, tabled on Tuesday, makes 41 findings and 35 recommendations to strengthen Victoria’s response to the alarming rise in hate.

They include stronger policing and justice responses, a whole-of-government prevention strategy, a restorative justice pilot, hate crime diversion programs and consideration of aggravated hate-based offences.

The inquiry also made recommendations related to the federal government, including strengthening national data collection, stronger safety measures on dating apps and ensuring anti-terrorism preparedness accounts for threats against LGBTIQA+ communities.

“This report is a stark acknowledgement of the scale and impact of anti-LGBTIQ+ hate in Victoria,” said Equality Australia Legal Director Heather Corkhill.

“LGBTIQ+ people are being deliberately targeted because of who they are, including through increasingly serious and violent attacks. We cannot dismiss this as isolated incidents or fringe behaviour.

“This is targeted hate, and it demands an immediate and serious response.”

Ms Corkhill called on the state government to adopt the recommendations in full, including the consideration of aggravated hate-based offences.

“When someone is targeted because of who they are, the law should recognise that from the outset. Hate-motivated crimes should be properly recorded, perpetrators held accountable and the additional harm experienced by victims properly recognised,” Ms Corkhill said.

However, she said criminal law could only be part of the response to hate.

“Hate is a social problem, and the law alone cannot solve it. We need to address the underlying attitudes that fuel hate, make it easier and safer for people to report hate, identify emerging threats before they escalate, and ensure victims can access properly funded, specialist support,” she said.

Chad Hughes, CEO Thorne Harbour Health called for immediate action.

"Every day, our staff sit with LGBTIQA+ people who carry the trauma of being targeted for who they are. Giving evidence to this inquiry meant we could bring those stories directly to government, and the inquiry's findings confirm what we've been hearing in our services for years: this hate is real, it's widespread, and it's causing lasting harm.

"Now we need to see that translated into action. Victoria and the Commonwealth have a roadmap in front of them. It's time to commit to it, and to fund the community organisations already doing the work of keeping our people safe.”

Key recommendations call on the Victorian government to advocate to the Commonwealth for: 

• a nationally consistent definition of hate crime and stronger national data collection on hate and prejudice against LGBTIQA+ communities 

• all dating apps operating in Australia become signatories to an enforceable and strengthened Australian Online Dating Code. 

• continued funding for research into anti-LGBTIQA+ hate and prejudice, including through the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society 

• national anti-terrorism preparedness that accounts for threats against LGBTIQA+ communities 

The inquiry also recommends a range of measures for the Victorian government, including: 

• developing a whole-of-government strategy to prevent hate crime 

• introducing aggravated hate-based offences and ensuring their publication is covered by ‘post and boast’ laws 

• investing in trusted LGBTIQA+ community organisations to establish accessible reporting mechanisms 

• resourcing community-led organisations to provide anonymous, after-hours and integrated case management support 

• establishing a pilot restorative justice program, co-designed with LGBTIQA+ communities 

• Victoria Police develop practical tools to identify anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes 

• increasing funding for community legal centres supporting victim-survivors of anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crime, including assistance to access the Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme 

• developing and implementing hate crime diversion programs 

Ms Corkhill said the inquiry makes clear that tackling anti-LGBTIQ+ hate will take action at all levels of government.

“The Victorian government has a critical role to play in preventing hate, but the federal government must also step up, improving national data and ensuring our security frameworks properly account for threats against LGBTIQ+ communities,” she said.

“Hate does not stop at state borders, and neither should our response. Tackling anti-LGBTIQ+ hate will take state and federal governments working together to prevent it, identify emerging threats and keep people safe.” 

Read the full report here.