The Allan Government has defended its support for a parliamentary inquiry into anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes, while the Liberal Party argues the investigation should extend to multicultural and faith-based communities.
The Legal and Social Issues Committee is set to examine hate crimes directed at the LGBTIQA+ community following a motion supported by Labor and the Greens.
“Under the Allan Labor Government, equality is not negotiable – that’s why we’re supporting the Legal and Social Issues Committee running an Inquiry into anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes,” the government said.
It added, “Today, Labor showed leadership – hate and division is not welcome in Victoria.”
The government criticised the opposition’s approach during the parliamentary debate. “In contrast, the divided Liberal Party turned their backs on the LGBTIQA+ community. Not for the first time,” the statement said.
“Conservative forces in the Liberal Party room have again exposed leadership weakness by failing to support today’s important hate crimes inquiry.”
Labor argued that targeted action was necessary. “Hate crimes are real and the LGBTIQA+ community is being targeted.”
“Attempting to block the anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes Parliamentary Inquiry is a betrayal – this is about improving safety, protecting people and better understanding what contributes to these heinous crimes.”
The government also pointed to measures it says strengthen community safety. “That’s why we passed strong anti-vilification laws, criminalised ‘posting and boasting’, strengthened bail reforms and banned machetes.”
“Under an Allan Labor Government, equality is not negotiable in Victoria, and it never will be.”
The opposition, however, maintains that the inquiry should not be limited to a single community.
Shadow Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs Evan Mulholland said, “The Indian community in my electorate is regularly raising with me their concern about the rise in racism – both in the streets and also online.”
“With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, there is a whole new frontier of spiteful content that is being created to demonise the Indian community.”
“It is easy to dismiss this as ‘AI slop’ when it is not your background or skin colour which is being attacked.”
Mr Mulholland told Parliament, “I fail to see how any member of this place, who cares for social cohesion, who cares for our multicultural communities and the strength of our social fabric, could fail to support my amendments.”
The exchange highlights a broader disagreement over whether hate crime inquiries should focus on specific communities or adopt a wider remit that includes multiple forms of racial and religious hostility.
With both sides framing the issue as one of community safety and social cohesion, the debate is likely to continue as the inquiry proceeds.
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