Wednesday, 21 June 2023

Anti-vilification legislation

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (17:47): (302) My adjournment is to the Attorney-General, and in making this adjournment tonight I rise to speak on the Victorian government’s response to the recommendations of the Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee’s inquiry into anti-vilification protections. In Victoria equality is not negotiable, nor should it be. Vilification is behaviour that incites and encourages hatred, serious contempt or ridicule because of a person’s race or religion. It can be against a person or a group of people, and we saw it here recently on the steps of Parliament, where bigots marched and spouted their hate. That is why I am proud that in response to recommendation 24 of the report the Andrews Labor government introduced the Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Symbol Prohibition) Bill 2022 to ban the public display of Nazi symbols. There is no place in Victoria for this glorification of the hateful and bigoted ideology of the Nazis. I note that the Victorian government has responded to the report’s recommendations. I am proud that the Andrews Labor government supports or supports in principle 34 of the report’s 36 recommendations.

I understand that our government is now getting on with that work, planning the best way to make the changes and implement what our community needs. We will of course carefully consider human rights. We will consider not just what is popular but what is right, and we will need to consult with the Victorian community. I want to say that I fully support Premier Daniel Andrews’s comments about getting this done right. I note the Attorney-General has set a time line for the new legislation. I commend her work. I will be doing my part by adding a survey on my website, which you can visit to have your say on the issue, and the government will consult with community groups.

I note the interest Mayor Jami Klisaris and the Stonnington City Council in my community of Southern Metro have in strengthening anti-vilification laws. I look forward to working collaboratively with Mayor Klisaris and her team on these important laws. That is why the action I seek is for the Attorney-General to consider Mayor Klisaris’s and Stonnington council’s views on the anti-vilification laws. We know that this is important work, and my community knows that it must be done properly. We only get one shot to make it right. I proudly represent the largest Jewish population in Australia, and I look forward to hearing, listening to and working with them on the development of these laws.