Stronger laws to protect the LGBTQIA+ community from hate crimes are being held hostage by the Opposition and Greens who have rejected multiple attempts to pass these laws including a bid to fast track the reforms.
The Minns Labor Government in March introduced reforms to expand ‘post and boast’ offences to assault and robbery following a string of horrific attacks against members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
These laws are in limbo after the Opposition and Greens teamed up with Mark Latham on Tuesday to vote against a Government motion to have the bill urgently debated in the Legislative Council.
In attempting to score a political point against the Government, the Opposition, Greens and Mark Latham have delayed greater protections for LGBTQIA+ against hate crimes.
Today, Greens Member of the Upper House, Abigail Boyd went so far as to say most of the Bills the Government was trying to pass, including these reforms, are “not very important”. Greens MP Sue Higginson also demanded that the motion to pass this reform to protect LGBTQIA+ people be withdrawn, further delaying these important reforms.
As well as expanding ‘post and boast’ laws, our reforms create new offences directed at offenders who lure victims on false pretences only to offend against them, including via dating apps.
Under the reforms, publicly threatening or inciting violence on the grounds of a protected attribute such as sexual orientation or gender identity will rise from three to five years’ imprisonment.
A higher penalty of up to seven years will apply if violence results from threats or incitement.
We are also seeking to amend the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 to make it easier for prosecutors to prove an offence was motivated by prejudice or hatred.
This will strengthen the ability of police and prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges and ensure that prejudice-motivated offending is properly recognised and punished by the courts.
Attorney General Michael Daley said:
“These laws provide much-needed protections for LGBTQIA+ people who have been attacked and robbed simply because of who they are. We are determined to hold perpetrators of this appalling violence to account.
“But instead of working with the Government to pass greater protections for LGBTQIA+ people, the Opposition and Greens have decided to play politics. This must end.”