February 6, 2025 – LGBTIQ+ group Equality Australia says NSW Premier Chris Minns needs to include all vulnerable minorities in the state government’s strengthened protections against inciting violence and hate-motivated vandalism.
Mr Minns on Thursday announced new measures to crack down on racial hatred, graffiti and antisemitism, including making it a criminal offence to intentionally incite racial hatred.
But all but one of the strengthened protections fail to include the LGBTIQ+ community and other vulnerable minorities.
“Our laws should protect everyone against hate and bigotry regardless of who they are, where they come from or what they believe,” said Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown.
“The premier must extend these strengthened provisions to everyone impacted by hate in NSW. Any community that is being targeted by hate deserves to be protected under the law and prioritising the needs of one group over another sets a dangerous precedent.”
Ms Brown acknowledged the urgency of addressing recent violent attacks but said Mr Minns must follow through on remarks he made today about leaving the door open to further changes.
She said the LGBTIQ+ community had long suffered from targeted attacks, including bashings, vandalism, online harassment and verbal slurs.
“LGBTIQ+ people experience violence and hatred in unique and severe ways. Each day I worry about the next bashing victim or the next community event that has been intimidated into being cancelled,” she said.
“Hate and violence against any community is abhorrent and LGBTIQ+ people are sadly among those in NSW who remain especially vulnerable to vilification and harm.
“We have seen a disturbing increase in incidents of hate speech, threats and physical attacks including vandalism, online attacks and targeted bashings.
“Events at libraries and local councils have also been forced to cancel because they have been threatened with vile hate speech and intimation.
Ms Brown said she welcomed improvements to an existing sentencing law that allows the court to impose a higher penalty when a crime is motivated by hatred or prejudice.
Media contact: Emily Mulligan, emily.mulligan@equalityaustralia.org.au, 0411 207 633
