My consistency question is directed to the Attorney-General. What steps is the minister taking to help protect and celebrate diversity in the Glen Waverley district? Bigotry and vilification affect us all, whether we are the direct victims of such reprehensible behaviour or not. It reflects on all of us as a society and brings us all down. This type of behaviour is simply unacceptable, and I am glad that the government has taken an appropriately strong response to deal with this pressing societal issue. The Glen Waverley district is a microcosm of the diversity in Victoria, and close to half the population was either born overseas or has a parent born overseas. We must ensure that vilification has no place in our society and that equality is not negotiable. I am proud to be part of a government which is standing up to protect every single member of our community, and I look forward to the Attorney’s response.
Minister’s Response:
I thank the Member for Glen Waverley for his question.
Vilification has no place in our community. Hate speech and hate conduct undermines the benefits that inclusion, multiculturalism and diversity bring to our community. It also undermines social cohesion as it can lead to people being silenced or marginalised from participation in public life.
The Victorian Government is committed to strengthening anti-vilification laws and this is why we have introduced the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill 2024.
If passed, the Bill will give effect to 15 of the recommendations of the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Anti-vilification Protections.
The Bill will retain protections under anti-vilification laws for people based on their race and religious belief or activity and expand protections to cover the attributes of disability, gender identity, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation and personal association with a person who has a protected attribute.
The Bill will also improve how serious vilification criminal offences operate, including by introducing two offences with lower thresholds and higher maximum penalties, and improve how civil protections operate, including by introducing a new harm-based protection.
The development of this Bill has benefited from extensive public and stakeholder consultation over a number of years, including with human rights, justice, legal, multicultural, advocacy and faith-based groups.
We thank the Victorian community for their valuable feedback and contribution to the development of these important reforms.
The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Planning
