Serious racial and religious vilification

Terms of reference

Pursuant to section 10 of the Law Reform Commission Act 1967 (NSW), the NSW Law Reform Commission is asked to expeditiously review and report on the effectiveness of section 93Z of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) in addressing serious racial and religious vilification in NSW.

In undertaking this review, the Commission should have regard to:

1. the impact of racial and religious vilification on all parts of the NSW community;
2. criminal vilification offences in other Australian and international jurisdictions, and the desirability of harmonisation and consistency between New South Wales, the Commonwealth and other Australian States or Territories;
3. the availability of civil vilification provisions in the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW);
4. the impacts on freedoms, including freedom of speech, association and religion;
5. the need to promote community cohesion and inclusion;
6. the views of relevant stakeholders as determined by the Commission; and
7. any other matter that the Commission considers relevant.

Received 14 February 2024.