The New South Wales Parliament has been navigating a fast-changing debate about how criminal law should respond to targeted violence and abuse against LGBTQIA+ people. After weeks of public pressure and media reporting about violent incidents, the NSW Greens secured a motion in the upper house that will see the long-awaited Sackar Review made public. That review, completed and returned to the Attorney General in November 2026, examines whether the state’s criminal-law protections are adequate and how they should interact with existing rights and freedoms.
The urgency of the release is tied to a wider legislative package the government unveiled to tackle an apparent surge in anti-LGBTQIA+ attacks. Those reforms expand what are commonly called post and boast practices into new criminal categories, create offences aimed at perpetrators who lure victims via dating platforms, and increase penalties for public threats or incitement based on protected attributes. Community groups, legal advocates and MPs have argued the Sackar Review’s findings are essential context for refining these measures.
Why the Sackar Review matters
The independent review by the Honourable John Sackar AM KC was commissioned by the NSW Attorney General in May 2026 to assess whether recent changes had left gaps in protection. It focused on whether protections enacted after the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2026 are sufficient, and how additional reforms might balance with rights such as the implied freedom of political communication and the freedom of religion. The review drew on submissions from dozens of organisations and experts to map the legal landscape and suggest targeted improvements.
Contributions and community input
According to campaigners, the review benefited from participation by a wide cross-section of stakeholders—from community legal centres and health organisations to national equality groups. More than fifty organisations contributed perspectives on how criminal law can better protect marginalised people, with specific attention to the unique risks faced by queer and trans communities. Advocates say access to the full review will help parliamentary debate and public scrutiny to be better informed during the current round of reforms.
What the government has introduced
The NSW Government’s reform package responds to patterns of offending described in recent investigations and police data. Key measures include expanding post and boast offences to capture serious assaults and robberies, and creating a new offence targeting perpetrators who use deception to lure victims into dangerous situations—a response to a number of app-linked attacks. Penalties for publicly threatening or inciting violence on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status have been increased from three to five years, with an aggravated form carrying up to seven years’ imprisonment where violence results.
Sentencing and proving motive
Reforms also propose amendments to the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 to make it easier for prosecutors to demonstrate that offending was motivated by prejudice. Under the changes, an aggravating factor tied to hatred or prejudice would be taken to apply when the offender shows or expresses such animus at the time of the offence, or in close temporal proximity. Supporters say this will help ensure prejudice-motivated crimes are identified and reflected in sentencing outcomes.
Reactions from advocacy groups and MPs
Community organisations working with LGBTIQ+ people welcomed the legislative steps but urged a broader strategy. Groups such as Equality Australia and ACON described the reforms as an important first move while warning that criminal penalties alone cannot end entrenched hostility. They called for better reporting channels, well-funded specialist legal services, and programs that prevent radicalisation and violent targeting. Independent and Greens MPs pushed for immediate publication of the Sackar Review, arguing it would strengthen parliamentary scrutiny and policy design.
Greens LGBTQIA+ spokesperson Dr Amanda Cohn argued that queer and trans people were not fully considered in previous hate-law changes and that the government had delayed releasing a report that could guide stronger protections. Supporters noted that an ABC investigation and reports of app-related attacks amplified calls for action, and that access to the expert review would allow lawmakers and the public to weigh whether the new laws go far enough.
What comes next
Following the Greens’ successful motion, the Attorney General has been urged to publish the Sackar Review promptly so it can inform further legislative adjustments. Community groups maintain that while tougher sentencing tools and new offences are necessary, a comprehensive response must combine criminal law with prevention, support services and education initiatives aimed at reducing hate before it becomes violence. The report’s release in the coming weeks is expected to shape how NSW balances those elements moving forward.