I want to make clear the NSW Government will not be repealing hate speech laws passed in Parliament last month.
Our laws criminalised intentionally and publicly inciting hatred towards another person, or group, based on race.
They send a clear message: the people of New South Wales stand together against inciting racial hatred in our great multicultural state.
NSW has seen hundreds of antisemitic attacks and incidents.
This racial hatred has caused our Jewish community to live in fear in their own state.
While the caravan was part of a criminal conspiracy – and not the plot of a terrorist organisation – it was still appalling racial hatred.
It targeted the Jewish community. It targeted a racial group to instil terror in our state.
While these laws were drafted in response to horrifying antisemitism, we have always made clear they would apply to anyone, preying on any person, at any time.
In response to calls for the laws to be scrapped, doing so would be a toxic message to our community that this kind of hate speech is acceptable when it’s not.
These laws are very important to maintaining social cohesion.