Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (16:22): I rise to speak on the report on the inquiry into anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes in Victoria. As a member of the committee, I had the privilege to sit in hearings and to read the submissions. Firstly, I note there was significant agreement in this inquiry that there was an absence of data on hate crimes, and I acknowledge that there are recommendations to improve data recording of hate crimes. I encourage the Parliament to investigate the causes of crime and violence and to collect the data and to do that objectively, be wide in scope and independent from biased parties. Accurate data will allow us to fully understand the extent and level of hate crimes in Victoria.

There were a lot of important topics raised in this inquiry. I was deeply affected by some of the submissions, and I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on this report through the lens of our wider community. I represent a wonderfully diverse, multifaith community down in the south-east. One of the final contributions of the inquiry was to work with all communities to address abuse and violence in Victoria. I acknowledge the inquiry for giving a strong and supportive voice to people in the LGBTIQA+ community. However, through the reflections I offer today I hope to contribute to our democratic and collaborative discussions by sharing the voice of faith communities.

There are migrants in my region who are victims of horrendous international persecution and hate crimes because of their race and faith. They came to Australia because our nation upholds freedoms of religion and belief. For example, persecuted Christians who escaped ISIS now deeply fear that their faith, world view and beliefs are being undermined and that they may lose the right to raise their children within their Christian faith and values. This is their deepest concern. It is something that can cause ordinary people of a peaceful and loving faith to push back, not out of hate but out of fear and out of devotion to their faith.

Faith, family and freedom are important to Christians, and from speaking with communities and individuals in my region, I know that other communities of faith want to protect their traditional family values. The Australian Christian Lobby submission included a line, which is in the final report, saying that it raises serious concerns about legitimate religious expression. There are a handful of recommendations in the second chapter that I know will worry faith communities, making them feel like they are not allowed to hold their beliefs or raise their children according to those beliefs or that the government will become brutal and coercively try to control their homes, their children, their youth, their education or their freedom to worship, associate, think and preserve their way of life.

I also understand some recommendations are intended to support police to address hate crimes as early as possible, but serious violence occurs. Early intervention is critical, and as a former social worker I understand that better than most. However, in our mission to put a stop to violence we must ensure we are not silencing innocent voices. When implementing the recommendations of this inquiry policymakers need to keep this very real and to seriously consider the concern of all Victorian parents. To our faith communities I say this to you: in Victoria we still live in a democracy where we are free to follow our faith and teach it to our future generations. It is my understanding in this review that world views and religious beliefs should not be under scrutiny or threat unless they specifically incite violence and hate crimes.

We also made several findings and recommendations about improving support systems for victim-survivors of hate crimes and creating a crime prevention strategy, which I would urge the government to widen to include all Victorians. Being an inquiry specifically into our LGBTIQA+ community, these recommendations specify that people who identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community need to be involved in this decision-making process. When making any policy it is incredibly important to have people who can be unintentionally implicated because of conflicting lifestyle world views, with lived experience, at the decision-making table. I hope we hear equally from victim-survivors and communities that are vulnerable to hate crimes. It would be remiss of us when trying to support one group to accidentally sideline and further endanger other vulnerable Victorians such as the disabled, ethnic communities and communities of faith. I do not want any Victorian or anyone in the world to be a victim of violent hate crimes, including people in the LGBTIQA+ community. I acknowledge the inquiry as an important step towards combating discrimination and violence in Victoria. However, as always, more needs to be done to deliver meaningful change and ensure Victorians are free from hate and abuse.