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Attorney General Michael Daley has appointed former NSW Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable John Sackar AM KC, to review criminal law hate speech protections. The review findings are to be reported to the Attorney General by 5 November 2025.
The review is to consider criminal law protections against hate speech for vulnerable communities.
The reviewer will assess whether existing protections are sufficient and recommend possible improvements, following the NSW Parliament passing the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025 (uncommenced), which criminalises the intentional incitement of racial hatred.
The Honourable John Sackar (‘the reviewer’) is asked to review and report on the criminal law protections against the incitement of hatred following the introduction of the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025.
In particular, the review should consider:
The review is now seeking written submissions from stakeholders. For more information on how to make a submission, please refer to the Have Your Say website.
Submissions are invited by Wednesday, 6 August 2025.
If you're unable to provide a written submission, please contact us via email at [email protected] or call 02 8688 9998.
Honourable John Sackar AM KC served as Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW between 2011 and 2024 and was Commissioner for the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes. Links
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