Kneejerk law and order responses will not make communities safer from racism and hate crimes

The Minns Government’s rushed laws which give police new powers and criminalise a vague range of activities outside places of worship will not address racial violence in NSW. The Human Rights Law Centre is calling for the laws to be referred to a Committee for expert and community consultation, so the laws will actually address the rise in antisemitism, racism and far-right extremism. 

Every person has the right to practice their religion without fear of intimidation or vilification, and to be protected from acts of hate speech, racism and violence.  

But these laws threaten people’s right to peaceful assembly outside places of worship, which can provide communities with an important tool to hold institutions to account. For example, the protests outside St Mary’s Cathedral which spotlighted the Catholic Church’s systemic failures on child abuse. 

There is no evidence that criminalising acts of hate and racism, or restricting protest, keeps communities safe. 

Quotes attributable to Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, Sarah Schwartz: 

“Everyone has the right to practice their religion in safety, without fear of intimidation or vilification, and to be protected from harassment, racism and violence. 

“There is no evidence that protests outside places of worship have any connection to the recent spate of serious antisemitic incidents in NSW and Victoria. Governments should be prioritising investigating the nature of these incidents, before passing rushed and punitive laws, without proper community consultation.  

“More police powers will not address the rise in antisemitism, racism and far-right extremism that is harming our communities. A clear line must be drawn between preventing acts of violent racism, and intimidation on the basis of religion and protecting the right to peacefully protest. 

“The Minns Government’s rushed, kneejerk laws should be referred to a Committee, so it can take a considered, targeted and consultative approach in tackling antisemitism, racism and far-right extremism.” 

Media contact:
Chandi Bates
Media and Communications Manager
Human Rights Law Centre
0430 277 254
chandi.bates@hrlc.org.au