Victoria Debates Expansion of Anti-Vilification Laws Targeting Hate Speech
Proposed legislation seeks to broaden protections and lower thresholds for prosecution, sparking concerns over free speech and enforcement challenges.
- Victoria's proposed anti-vilification law seeks to expand protections beyond race and religion to include attributes such as gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.
- The legislation would lower the threshold for police to prosecute hate speech, addressing criticism that current laws are ineffective with few convictions over the past two decades.
- A 'genuine political purpose' defense included in the bill has raised concerns from opposition parties and some religious groups, who fear it could undermine the law's intent.
- The bill has received support from LGBTQIA+, disability, and women's advocacy groups, while some religious organizations and the opposition remain divided on its provisions.
- The Victorian government is engaging with community and religious groups to address concerns, with debate on the bill set to continue in parliament this week.
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