Anti-vilification and anti-hate laws have been strengthened in Victoria. The reforms aim to ensure equal participation in public life by addressing the profound harm that hate causes when it targets people for parts of their identity. Everyone should live with dignity and feel safe in our state.
\n","seoTitle":"Fact sheet - explaining Victoria’s new anti-hate laws ","seoDescription":"Anti-vilification and anti-hate laws have been strengthened in Victoria. The reforms aim to ensure equal participation in public life by addressing the profound harm that hate causes when it targets people for parts of their identity. Everyone should live with dignity and feel safe in our state. ","seoImage":null,"image":{"altText":"","caption":null,"sourceRemote":"https://cms.humanrights.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Vilification-anti-hate-laws-group-standing-.png","sourceLocal":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#284888","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/22017777e9d443fc39f55d45d6356afe/ec61d/Vilification-anti-hate-laws-group-standing-.png","srcSet":"/static/22017777e9d443fc39f55d45d6356afe/2555c/Vilification-anti-hate-laws-group-standing-.png 750w,\n/static/22017777e9d443fc39f55d45d6356afe/ec61d/Vilification-anti-hate-laws-group-standing-.png 1080w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/22017777e9d443fc39f55d45d6356afe/71048/Vilification-anti-hate-laws-group-standing-.webp 750w,\n/static/22017777e9d443fc39f55d45d6356afe/ebdf0/Vilification-anti-hate-laws-group-standing-.webp 1080w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"100vw"}]},"width":1,"height":1.7777777777777777}}}},"buttonLink":null,"buttonColour":"default"},"appBreadcrumb":[{"title":"Home","link":"/"}],"acfTableOfContents":{"tableOfContents":null},"acfBodyContent":{"bodyContent":[{"__typename":"WPGraphQL_Resource_Acfbodycontent_BodyContent_Wysiwyg","contentHeading":"Why have the laws changed? ","content":"Racial and religious vilification has been against the law for the last 25 years under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 (the RRTA). However, the high threshold to prove incitement and lack of application to other communities impacted by hate meant that very few people sought protection under the law.
\nAfter significant consultations and a Parliamentary Inquiry into anti-vilification protections, the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion) Act 2025 was passed in April 2025 that includes new civil and criminal protections. It inserted civil vilification protections in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (the Equal Opportunity Act) and criminal protections in the Crimes Act 1958, and repealed the RRTA.
\n\n"},{"__typename":"WPGraphQL_Resource_Acfbodycontent_BodyContent_Wysiwyg","contentHeading":"What is vilification? ","content":"
Vilification is behaviour that is hateful or seriously contemptuous of, or reviling or severely ridiculing of another person or group because they have one or more protected characteristics.
\nFrom 15 April 2026, under the Equal Opportunity Act, there are two grounds of vilification:
\nMore people are now protected against hate speech and hateful behaviour targeting their identities, backgrounds and personal characteristics. Protections apply because of a person’s disability, gender identity, race, religious belief, sex, sex characteristics and sexual orientation, or personal association with someone who has one of these protected characteristics.
\n"},{"__typename":"WPGraphQL_Resource_Acfbodycontent_BodyContent_Wysiwyg","contentHeading":"Where can vilification occur? ","content":"Vilification protections apply to “public conduct”. Public conduct includes hateful words said, written, displayed, broadcasted and communicated in public, such as on the street, online and social media, in school, workplaces or anywhere the public can hear or see it.
\nPublic conduct also includes actions and gestures, clothes, signs, flags, emblems and insignia that are observable by the public.
\n"},{"__typename":"WPGraphQL_Resource_Acfbodycontent_BodyContent_Wysiwyg","contentHeading":"What can vilification look like? ","content":"Whether behaviour amounts to vilification will depend on the circumstances. Examples of behaviour that may be vilification include:
\nVilification does not include private behaviour. However, depending on the circumstances, some private conduct may be public conduct even if it occurs on private property or land, or at a place not open to the general public. For example, private conduct may be public conduct even if it occurs at a school or a workplace. Conversations may be vilification if they can be heard by the people around them.
\nPrivate acts that take place within public view may also be vilification.
\nSome public behaviour may not amount to vilification if engaged in reasonably and in good faith:
\nFreedom of expression is a protected right under the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 in Victoria.
\nUnder the anti-vilification reforms, everyone can still share their views and engage in robust discussions so long as they do not cause harm to others, or are done reasonably, in good faith, for a genuine protected purpose.
\n"},{"__typename":"WPGraphQL_Resource_Acfbodycontent_BodyContent_Wysiwyg","contentHeading":"What can you do if you have experienced vilification? ","content":"If you have experienced vilification, you can get help from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
\nWe can give you information on:
\nHate speech and hateful behaviour can cause significant harm to a person’s health and wellbeing. To support community, the Commission hosts a directory of services that can connect you with professional services.
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