Review into hate speech protections for vulnerable communities

Thursday, 8 May 2025 

Attorney General Michael Daley has appointed former NSW Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable John Sackar AM KC, to review criminal law hate speech protections for vulnerable communities. 

Mr Sackar will examine whether existing protections are sufficient and recommend any possible improvements, following the passage of the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025 criminalising the intentional incitement of racial hatred. 

The review will consider how protections for vulnerable communities interact with existing rights and freedoms, such as the implied freedom of political communication and freedom of religion. 

It will also look at any other criminal law reforms that could enhance social cohesion.  

Mr Sackar served as Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW between 2011 and 2024 and was Commissioner for the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes. 

He is due to report back to the Attorney General by 5 November 2025.  

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“Hate speech is unacceptable and has no place in NSW.  

“The NSW Government has put in place a number of measures to strengthen social cohesion and has made it a criminal offence to incite hatred on grounds of race. 

“This review by Mr Sackar will consider hate speech protections for vulnerable communities. 

“It will look at how they interact with existing rights and freedoms and whether there are avenues for improvement. 

“This is important to give vulnerable communities confidence in the effective operation of our laws.”