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The NSW Government has announced stronger penalties for hate crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community, a move welcomed by advocates such as the Inner City Legal Centre.

The reforms introduced in Parliament include the expansion of ‘post and boast’ offences to include serious assaults and robberies committed against the LGBTQIA+ community, criminalising the luring of victims on false pretences (including using dating apps) and increasing of the maximum penalty from three to five years in jail, for threatening or inciting violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity, with an aggravated version of this offence punishable up to seven years.

“The attacks we have seen targeting members of the LGBTQIA+ community are sickening and completely unacceptable,” said Premier Chris Minns. “These laws send a clear message that if you target someone out of hatred or try to lure someone into harm, you will face serious consequences.”

‘Post and boast’ is the criminal act of filming illegal activities and sharing it on social media. in 2024 the Minns government introduced legislation to criminalise the practice, specifically for motor theft and break and enter offences. Now it’s extended to hate crimes that involve serious assault and robbery.

“The attacks we have recently seen against members of the LGBTQIA+ community are appalling and have no place in modern society,” said Attorney General Michael Daley.

“We’re strengthening the ability of vulnerable community members to seek justice and making it easier to charge and prosecute perpetrators of these appalling crimes.”

The decision was welcomed by LGBTQIA+ advocates across the state. The Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) noted the legislation is an “important signal that violence, intimidation and abuse of LGBTQIA+ people will not be tolerated further” but also warned that increased funding to community-based legal support is essential for the reforms to work.

“Strengthening penalties for hate crimes and giving police and prosecutors better tools to hold perpetrators to account is a vital step in protecting LGBTQIA+ people,” said Katie Green, CEO of the ICLC. “To ensure these reforms deliver real protection on the ground, LGBTQIA+ people also need access to culturally safe legal help when they experience discrimination, vilification or violence and that’s where a dedicated LGBTQIA+ community legal service for NSW is critical.”

The legislation follows other measures on equality and inclusion, the ban of LGBTQIA+ conversion practices and the establishment of the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council.

Equality Australia also voiced its support for the new legislation noting the increase in media reports that teen LGBTQIA+ people in NSW have been lured through dating apps and assaulted on camera. “These reforms are a significant first step but legislation alone won’t address the growing threat facing LGBTIQ+ people,” said Heather Corkhill, Legal Director at Equality Australia. “We are seeing an alarming rise in often violent, targeted attacks against LGBTIQ+ people driven by a dangerous and deeply entrenched form of hatred.

“Addressing this will require more than stronger penalties — it also means improving reporting pathways, tracking emerging hate trends and ensuring victims have access to properly funded support services.”