In the wake of a confronting investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) into a resurgence of IS-inspired violence targeting young gay and bisexual men in Sydney, Australia, NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced the government will move to introduce stronger hate crime laws.
The two-year ABC investigation uncovered evidence of young LGBTQIA+ men being lured through dating apps and violently assaulted, with reported incidents stretching back to 2023. The program obtained distressing footage and victim testimonies documenting alleged IS sympathisers targeting and filming attacks on gay and bisexual teenagers.
Among the details reported was the assault of a 16-year-old boy who was forced into a public toilet block, beaten and verbally abused with homophobic and religious slurs while pleading for his life.
‘Absolutely Shocking’
“I’ve seen those reports on the ABC as well and they’re shocking,” Minns said during a press conference. “They’re absolutely shocking examples of violent crime in our community directed against individuals because of their sexuality.”
The Premier confirmed he has consulted with the Cabinet Office and the Attorney General’s Department about possible legal reforms.
Minns said he intends to introduce “massive new penalties specifically to target this abhorrent behaviour,” describing the attacks as reminiscent of a “shocking period in Sydney history”.
Potential Law Changes
The proposed reforms could include tougher penalties where a carriage service is used to facilitate crimes. Under Australian law, a carriage service can include communication via mobile phone, text message, social media, email or internet-based apps — the mechanisms allegedly used to lure victims.
“It might be an aggravating factor or a new offence,” Minns said.
“We will not allow a situation in New South Wales where people are being targeted because of their sexuality by somebody else. I want to make sure that we’re in a situation where police have got the resources, the DPP have got the resources, so if someone is convicted of a crime like that, they can throw the book at them and they are subject to a significant jail penalty.”
Currently, NSW does not have specific criminal offences that directly address violence motivated by anti-LGBTQIA+ hate.
Broader National Context
The announcement comes just days after the Victorian Greens successfully moved for a parliamentary inquiry into the scale and scope of anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes across Victoria. The inquiry will examine a series of alarming attacks targeting mostly gay and bi+ men via dating apps, including Grindr and Scruff.
The ABC investigation has intensified calls for coordinated national reforms aimed at addressing extremist radicalisation, online-facilitated violence and hate-motivated crime.
Further details of the NSW Government’s proposed legislation are expected in the coming weeks.
