The Australian state of Victoria has begun its parliamentary inquiry into anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes, following a series of disturbing attacks targeting gay and bisexual men.
Conducted by the Victorian Parliament Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee, the inquiry was established in February after a push from the Victorian Greens. It follows attacks that have occurred across multiple states and territories since 2024, many of which involved victims being lured through fake dating app profiles, assaulted, filmed and then posted online.
The inquiry will examine the scale of these crimes, as well as the role of influences such as the far-right manosphere in fuelling homophobic attacks. It will also consider whether Victoria’s current response and support systems are adequate for victim-survivors.
“This is a global phenomenon and it will require global solutions,” Labor MP Michael Galea, deputy chair of the committee, said in a video posted to social media marking the start of the hearings.
“We’ve already brought in post-and-boast laws, we’ve already provided support to services such as Switchboard to respond to these incidents, but it’s really important that we do hear from the community in this Parliamentary inquiry, so that we can know what needs to be done.”
What is the inquiry about?
The Inquiry into anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes in Victoria aims to investigate the driving forces behind attacks on gay and bisexual+ men, while also examining the state’s response and how it supports victim-survivors.
According to the Victorian Parliament, the committee will inquire into the “scale and scope” of anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes in Victoria, including the communication and recruitment methods of anti-LGBTIQA+ influencers and hate groups, current strategies to counter hate crimes, public and online safety initiatives, and the responsibilities of social media and digital platforms.
The inquiry will also consider existing data on hate crimes Australia-wide, the impact on diverse LGBTIQA+ communities, interjurisdictional strategies to combat hate crimes across borders, and the work of the Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities and relevant advisory groups.
The inquiry will take an intersectional approach, considering the experiences of diverse communities, including Rainbow Mob, people with disabilities, and multifaith and multicultural communities.
In March, the committee called for submissions from hate crime survivors, affected community members, advocacy groups and service providers. Submissions have now closed, with more than 80 published online. The Parliament warns that some submissions may contain distressing material.
“Violence against any Victorian because of who they are is wrong. Threats, intimidation and harassment are wrong,” committee chair Joe McCracken said in a media release, adding that the inquiry would provide an important opportunity for communities, experts, service providers and advocates to share their experiences.
The final report is due by 1 September 2026.
Hearings begin in Melbourne
The committee is holding two days of public hearings, which started yesterday, Wednesday, 24 June, as part of the inquiry. The first hearing began at 9.00am at 55 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, and is available to watch live through the Victorian Parliament website.
Day one includes appearances from representatives of Switchboard Victoria, Thorne Harbour Health, the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, Q+Law, the Municipal Association of Victoria, and experts from the New South Wales Police Hate Crime Unit and Deakin University.
The second day is expected to include representatives from dating platform Grindr, Victoria Police, the Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities, the Victims of Crime Commissioner, Respect Victoria and others.
Evidence already heard by the inquiry has highlighted the targeting of gay and bisexual men, including international students who may face severe consequences if outed to family members overseas. The Guardian reported that Victoria Police had identified 95 attacks targeting gay and bisexual men across the state since June 2024, resulting in 42 arrests, though community organisations believe the true number is likely higher due to underreporting.
People engaging with the hearings are being urged to do so with care, as the content may be distressing.
