Equality Australia: LGBTIQ+ groups welcome NSW Premier’s commitment to address rising hate and violence
Michael Barnett OAM
February 25, 2026
LGBTIQ+ groups welcome NSW Premier’s commitment to address rising hate and violence
February 25, 2025 — Equality Australia and ACON have welcomed a commitment from NSW Premier Chris Minns to do more to combat rising hate against the LGBTIQ+ community following a spate of violent assaults in Sydney.
However, both organisations have cautioned that a criminal justice response alone will not be sufficient to prevent further harm.
An ABC investigation published on Wednesday detailed deeply distressing footage and first-hand accounts of gay and bisexual teenagers lured through dating apps and bashed on camera in Sydney.
Equality Australia Legal Director Heather Corkhill said the attacks were a stark example of how online anti-LGBTIQ+ hatred is spilling into real-world violence.
“For years, we have sounded the alarm about rising hostility toward our communities and yet the response has been woefully inadequate,” she said.
“The pattern of assaults against gay and bi men around the country makes it clear that this is not isolated behaviour but part of a sustained and troubling trend.
“Our community is understandably frightened and looking to the government for leadership and action. We welcome the premier’s unequivocal condemnation of these attacks and a commitment to strengthening the law.”
The attacks demand an “immediate, serious and sustained response,” Ms Corkill added.
“As a priority, NSW should introduce aggravated hate offences. These would allow courts to recognise hate motivation within existing crimes without creating entirely new offences.
“Crucially, they ensure that hate is identified and recorded from the outset, improve the quality of data, and properly acknowledge the distinct harm suffered by victims who are targeted for their identity.”
But, she said, criminal justice responses were only part of the solution.
“Enforcement alone will not stop this from happening again and prevention is equally critical.
“We need action to disrupt online radicalisation, coordinated hate networks and copycat behaviour, as well as the spread of anti-LGBTIQ+ hostility in online spaces that is creating the conditions for this violence.
“We also need stronger reporting mechanisms, responsive policing, properly funded wrap-around support for victims, and long-overdue reform to expand criminal hate speech protections beyond race to cover all affected communities.”
Ms Corkhill called for the urgent release of the Sackar Review into expanding protections to our communities.
“The NSW Government has been sitting on the Sackar Review since November and it should be released without further delay so any response is developed in an informed and evidence-based way,” she said.
Michael Woodhouse, CEO of ACON, said LGBTQ+ people should be able to live their lives free from violence and discrimination.
“ACON is extremely concerned about the recent reports of violent attacks targeting gay and bisexual men in Sydney,” he said.
“Over the past two years there has been a consistent number of concerning assaults facilitated through social media. These are serious crimes that reflect the rising level of hate faced by LGBTQ+ communities.
“ACON continues to work closely with the NSW Police Hate Crime Unit to inform local communities about risks to their safety and strategies to make sure Police have the best possible response to victims of crime.
“We have confidence in the ability of NSW Police to investigate and respond to hate crimes. Anyone with information about these or other violent incidents is encouraged to contact NSW Police or make a report to Crime Stoppers.”
Media contact:
Equality Australia: Tara Ravens, 0408 898 154
ACON: Matt Akersten, 0414 823 930