Victoria Seeks to Expand Hate Speech Laws to Protect LGBT, Disabled

Victoria’s hate speech laws are set to expand to protect LGBT individuals and people with disabilities, moving beyond the current provisions, which only cover race and religion. The proposed changes, which represent a major overhaul of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act, also lower the threshold for criminal charges. Prosecutors will now only need to show incitement of hatred rather than requiring evidence of physical harm. Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the changes aim to protect vulnerable groups from targeted hate without restricting genuine religious practices. “This isn’t about curtailing religious practice,” she told ABC. She assured that expressions of faith in good faith would remain protected....