16 Jan 2026 – Equality Australia is calling on the federal government to work with the Greens and crossbench to extend protections to all communities targeted by hate and secure the bill’s passage through parliament next week.
Under the draft bill, LGBTIQ+ people and other vulnerable groups have been excluded from the aggravated sentencing provision and remain without protection from promoting or inciting hatred.
“Parliament has an opportunity to deliver lasting protections for LGBTIQ+ people facing escalating violence and harassment, alongside people of minority faiths and people with disability,” said Equality Australia Legal Director Heather Corkhill.
“Given the well-established link between hate speech and violence, leaving any group unprotected implies their safety matters less and that violence against them is tolerated.
“Creating a hierarchy of protections fractures social cohesion and compromises the integrity and effectiveness of the law.
“The Bondi attack demands an urgent response, but this bill must do more: it must protect all Australians from future acts of violence.
"Parliament can pass a bill next week with straightforward amendments to include our communities, especially since the criminal law being amended already recognises us as an at-risk group."
Ms Corkhill noted some concerns about the bill, including freedom of speech and protest rights.
“While the balance is challenging, we can get this bill right with targeted amendments. Strong safeguards, including the requirement to prove intent and a long-standing public interest speech defence, are designed to protect free expression and legitimate public debate,” she said.
“Allowing this process to drag on will only deepen societal division and make meaningful protections against hate less likely. LGBTIQ+ people are facing alarming, deliberate attacks and we need protections now, not years down the track.”
Over 30 LGBTIQ+ community organisations made a submission to the review of exposure draft legislation. Read more here.
Media contacts:
Emily Mulligan: 0411 207 633
Mike Hitch: 0426 812 115
