Victoria has passed strict new anti-vilification laws, with penalties of up to five years in prison for so-called “hate speech.”
The expanded laws now cover gender identity, sex, and sexual orientation—but include a controversial “Sam Kerr clause” to prevent them from being “weaponised against their intended purpose.”
Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri defended the amendment, saying it ensures that “First Nations and marginalised communities” are not unfairly targeted, while Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell argued it would keep the laws “accessible for the communities who need them.”
But with such broad definitions and selective protections, who really decides what counts as ‘hate speech’—and who gets punished?
with News Max
