Just.Equal Australia says the Federal Government must do more to prohibit hate speech against LGBTIQA+ Australians following the tabling of hate crime legislation.

 

The Government’s new law will prohibit incitement to violence, but not incitement to hatred as the Government promised.

 

Just.Equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

 

“The Government’s plan to amend the criminal code to prohibit incitement to violence against LGBTIQA+ people needs to occur because we are one of the groups not already protected.”

 

“But with rising hate against our community, especially transgender people, our top priority is to prohibit vilification against LGBTIQA+ people in the Sex Discrimination Act.”

 

“Prohibiting incitement to violence but not incitement to hatred is like curing the symptoms rather than preventing the illness. “

 

Mr Croome said anti-LGBTIQA+ vilification has already been prohibited in Tasmania, Queensland, the ACT, NT and partially in NSW.

 

“With vilification protections in place in several states and territories, the federal government has no excuses.” 

 

For a news report: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/12/labor-hate-crimes-bill-lgbtq-jewish-groups

 

For a copy of this statement on the web, click here