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LGBTIQ hate crimes

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Homophobic assaults through social media apps are on the rise.

Pressure for tougher laws against gay hate crimes after surge in dating app attacks

The premier is looking to urgently legislate tougher penalties against gay hate crimes after reports of an increase in assaults against men lured on dating apps.

  • Jessica McSweeney

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Ashley Paul Griffith was sentenced to life in prison for hundreds of charges of child abuse dating back to 2003, including 28 counts of rape against young girls.

Top cop’s plea for alleged Sydney victims of notorious daycare paedophile

Ashley Paul Griffith allegedly abused two dozen children in NSW, the eldest aged only four. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Yeomans wants him brought to justice.

  • Perry Duffin
The National Socialist Network rally outside the NSW parliament on November 8.

How to stop neo-Nazis forming a political party: This involves you, Albanese

These anti-democratic fringe-dwellers want to exploit democracy just so they can white-ant it from within. Here’s how democracy can fight back.

  • Rosalind Dixon
Dating app Grindr.

Gay-hate crimes 2025-style: teenagers lure victims on dating sites

This is a pattern, not a scare story. Today’s attackers do not wait in known beats or coastal parks; they exploit trust and weaponise the phones in our hands.

  • Nicholas Stewart
The Midsumma Pride March in 2024.

Anti-hate taskforce to hear from LGBTQ community in wake of violent attacks

Victoria’s anti-hate taskforce will hear from members of the LGBTQ community following a spate of violent, targeted attacks across Melbourne.

  • Bridie Smith
Homophobic slurs are being covered up by rainbow flags.

Rainbow flags cover up messages of hate after attacks in Melbourne’s gay heartland

A wave of homophobic attacks, from far-right graffiti to violent bashings, has rocked Melbourne. But the city’s queer community refuses to back down.

  • Rachael Dexter
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Groups of teenagers and young men are using dating apps to lure, violently assault and rob men in Melbourne parks before posting footage they capture of the disturbing attacks on social media.

James thought he was meeting a date. Attackers beat him and laughed while he screamed

Groups of young males are using fake dating profiles to lure men to parks for vicious homophobic attacks which are then being posted to, and boasted about, on social media.

  • Melissa Cunningham and Cameron Houston
Premier Jacinta Allan and then Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes announced the new laws in November.

Hate speech laws pass parliament as Liberals claim freedom of speech is at risk

The long-awaited reforms will make serious vilification – such as incitement of hatred or physical threats – punishable by up to five years’ jail.

  • Daniella White
Premier Chris Minns has been criticised over ‘cruel’ new hate speech laws which will exclude the LGBTIQ+ community from protection

NSW Labor slammed for ‘cruel’ new hate speech laws that won’t protect LGBTIQ community

After weeks spent foreshadowing new anti-vilification laws in defiance of a recommendation from the state’s expert legal body, Minns announced on Thursday that he will move to criminalise hate speech when parliament resumes next week. 

  • Michael McGowan
Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich

MP accuses NSW Police of leaking ‘confidential details’

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich is concerned the leak will discourage members of the LGBTQ community from reporting hate speech.

  • Michael McGowan