NSW to criminalise religious vilification in ‘much needed’ move for multicultural groups

One state is moving to tighten laws on religious vilification amid what has been called a wave of “growing intolerance” to multicultural communities.

The NSW government will move to tighten vilification laws in NSW amid what one MP has called “growing levels” of intolerance to multicultural groups and faiths.

Proposed laws before parliament on Wednesday would criminalise public acts which incite hatred, ridicule, or hold serious contempt for a person, or group due to their religious beliefs or practices.

The amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 will cover verbal and non-verbal public acts and will be modelled on similar laws which prohibit unlawful vilification of race, homosexuality, transgender status and HIV/AIDS status.

The NSW government will introduce a bill to tighten the state's religious vilification laws. Picture: iStock

The bill will also apply to people who are not religious, or engage in religious activity, in acknowledgment that those views should also be protected.

Attorney-General Michael Daley said it was “high time” the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 was changed.

“For the most part, we are a tolerant society, and we welcome people to NSW from all over the world. However, we need to have laws that protect people of faith from public actions that incite hatred, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule for religious beliefs,” he said.

Attorney-General Michael Daley said it was ‘high time’ the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 was amended. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Nikki Short

Multiculturalism Minister Steve Kamper said the legislation was “much needed,” to ensure the protection of diverse and multicultural communities.

“The unfortunate reality is that certain forms of religious vilification are on the rise. No matter your personal beliefs, this is unacceptable,” he said.

“Members of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh faiths have all raised concerns about the growing levels of intolerance towards members of their communities.”

NSW Labor have also pledged $10m to help faith organisations improve safety and security at places of worship, schools and community centres.

The government has also promised to establish a Premier’s Prevention Panel on Racism and Extremism to address growing concerns of faith and culturally and linguistically diverse communities in NSW.

The panel will include stakeholders from government agencies including the NSW Police Force, Multicultural NSW, NSW Health, Department of Education, Communities and Justice, Local Government and Family and Community Services.