ACL: Equality Must Apply to All in Greens-Led Hate Crime Inquiry
Michael Barnett OAM
News Item
Equality Must Apply to All in Greens-Led Hate Crime Inquiry
The Victorian Government has backed a Greens-led inquiry into anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes following recent violent incidents.
Violence against any person is unacceptable and must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Hateful conduct has no place in Victoria.
But this inquiry raises a broader question about how protection is applied.
Christians are increasingly facing faith-based prejudice, workplace exclusion and legal action because of their beliefs. These experiences rarely attract the same level of political attention, yet they are real for those affected.
If Parliament is examining hate crimes, it should take a clear-eyed look at the full landscape of hostility and discrimination in Victoria.
The strength of this inquiry will not be measured by how loudly it affirms one group, but by whether it reinforces equal treatment under the law for all Victorians.
State Director | VIC