Rights commissioner Kristen Hilton.Credit:Darrian Traynor
A push by Reason Party MP Fiona Patten for tough new anti-trolling laws in Victoria was sent to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday morning,in a move that will push the reform process back well into 2020.
Ms Patten hopes to widen the state’s legislation to include hate speech targeting people for their gender,disability,sexual orientation or gender identity. At present,the law only covers racial and religious vilification and has resulted in just one prosecution in 17 years.
The committee process is expected to result in a bill ready to be debated next year.
But Premier Daniel Andrews said the Morrison government’s controversial religious freedoms bill,if passed by the Federal Parliament,could have a serious effect on anything Victoria could do to protect its residents from online hate speech.
"We’ve made some commitment,around having a good look at some of the hate crimes law that we have in place,"the Premier said.
"But we’re probably looking to see what the outcomes are from some of the bills,particularly the religious freedoms bill,that are before the Federal Parliament.
"We want to see how that unfolds,because it might cut across some of the work we’re looking to do.”