Rachel, who identifies as queer, said the earlier start makes it impossible for conservatives to campaign for the laws to be scrapped in next year’s state election lead-up.
“Our LGBTQ+ community knows how important it is that we have laws shielding us from hate and bigotry,” she said.
“Conservative forces worked hard to derail Victoria’s anti-vilification laws but didn’t succeed. I’m a member of the Legalise Cannabis Party, and I was an ardent supporter. I also successfully campaigned for the laws to come into effect sooner.”
Rachel said the law’s intent was to extend legal protections beyond race and religion to attributes of sexual orientation, gender and disability – and to defend people ‘associating’ with a person with a protected attribute, for example friends and family of queer people.
“These laws will shield us from the vilest of hatreds,” she said.
“The new laws make serious vilification – for example incitement of hatred or physical threats – punishable by up to five years’ jail, and civil protections are strengthened, meaning more pathways for people to take legal action and get compensation if they’ve been harmed.
“My amendment will bring forward the start of the civil law protections from 18 September 2027 to 30 June 2026.
“I wanted no overlap with the 2026 state election to avoid the laws being politicised in the election campaign. I didn’t want conservative forces making a last-ditch attempt to scuttle our community’s legal safeguard.”
Rachel said while the laws were being debated, the Rainbow Libraries Toolkit came under attack.
“I represent the south-east of Melbourne and council-endorsed family and community group drag story time events were targeted in my seat,” she said.
“Bigots stoked fear and successfully got many events shut down.
“I will not tolerate people in my community being made to feel unsafe and vilified because of who they are. We in the LGBTIQA+ community need to be protected, not pushed out of public life – that’s why I stood up for these laws.
“Previously, laws only protected you from this kind of hatred on the basis of your race and religion but now if you’re a part of the LGBTIQA+ community you will be protected.”
Rachel paid tribute to former state MP Fiona Patten, running as the Victorian candidate for Legalise Cannabis in the May federal election.
“Similar anti-vilification legislation was introduced to the Victorian parliament by Fiona Patten in 2019,” Rachel said. “It’s because of Fiona that these laws are here today.
“Change may take time, but it is inevitable and essential.”
