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New protections against vilification

From 20 September 2025, two new criminal vilification offences will better protect more Victorians from vilification. The strengthened civil vilification protections, including a new harm-based protection, will commence on 15 April 2026.

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Changes to the law: Anti-vilification and social cohesion reforms

Hate has no place in the Victorian community, and everyone has the right to feel safe in the place they call home.

In April 2025, Parliament passed the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Act 2025 to strengthen Victoria’s anti-vilification laws. This landmark legislation was developed following extensive consultation over several years, including with human rights, justice, legal, multicultural, advocacy and faith-based groups.

Vilification is often called hate speech or conduct

Vilification includes a range of behaviour that encourages hatred against you or is hateful of you because of who you are.

Vilification can cause profound harm to both individuals and entire communities, and undermines Victoria’s social cohesion as a multicultural and inclusive society.

Vilification is different to discrimination and sexual harassment

More protections against vilification

More Victorians will be protected from vilification. The law will extend beyond race and religion to also protect the attributes (the characteristics of a person or group) of:

This expansion will apply from:

20 September 2025: New serious criminal vilification offences

Previous vilification offences in the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 were complex and difficult to prosecute. From 20 September 2025, two new serious vilification offences prohibit the most serious cases of hate speech or conduct – not merely offensive or unkind behaviour – and carry higher maximum penalties, to reflect the seriousness of this behaviour.

The new serious vilification offences in the Crimes Act 1958 are:

  1. an incitement offence
  2. a threat offence.

Incitement offence

A person commits this offence if they say or do something that could incite (e.g. encourage or urge) hatred against, contempt for, revulsion toward or severe ridicule of, another person or group:

Penalty

This will be punishable by a maximum penalty of up to 3 years imprisonment.

Depending on the case, a court may give the offender a fine or community-based order.

Threat offence

A person commits this offence if they threaten another person or group with physical harm or property damage:

Penalty

This will be punishable by a maximum penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment.

Depending on the case, a court may give the offender a fine or community-based order.

When the offences apply

The new serious vilification offences will apply to vilification that occurs on or after 20 September 2025:

Fact sheet - New criminal laws against serious vilification PDF 185.8 KB (opens in a new window)

Translated information about the new serious vilification offences

Translated information about the new criminal offences for vilification in Victoria.

Reporting serious vilification

In an emergency, always call police on triple zero (000).

Victoria Police can arrest and charge someone if their conduct appears to be a crime.

Whether the new criminal offences apply to a particular incident will depend on the individual facts and circumstances of each case.

To report serious vilification, contact your local police station or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Getting help if you have experienced vilification

To report serious vilification, contact your local police station or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

15 April 2026: Stronger civil protections

Stronger civil protections will commence on 15 April 2026. These protections include a modified incitement-based protection and a new harm-based protection.

These protections will capture public conduct (including online) that:

Victims of vilification will continue to be able to seek civil redress through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC).

VEOHRC’s existing powers under the Equal Opportunity Act will be expanded to respond to vilification.

Protecting and promoting human rights

There will still be exceptions to the civil protections to promote human rights, freedom of expression and religion.

Further information about the civil protections will be available closer to 15 April 2026.

Why the law is changing

The Victorian Government is committed to protecting Victorians from vilification. We made these changes after extensive consultation with the Victorian community, including with human rights, justice, legal, multicultural, advocacy and faith-based groups.

For more information visit the Engage Victoria website.

Response to the Inquiry into Anti-Vilification Protections

The government wants to reduce hate crime and vilification in Victoria. Vilification has no place in our community.

Law, crime & justice

Updated 10 April 2026

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