Statutes Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (16:54): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 and the Sentencing Act 2017. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (16:55): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I note that this is a bill that comes from the debate that we recently had in this place on provocation laws and, indeed, the long debate that I have brought to this place about ending the gay panic defence in our courts. I am very pleased that in the other place they have accorded with the council's view of the gay panic defence and that this parliament will soon dump that gay panic defence.

In the course of the consultation on that bill, the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance came to me with many thousands of signatures—so with the strong support of their constituency—and raised the issue of hate crimes. I sought to make an amendment to the provocation bill with regard to sentencing and being able to acknowledge hatred of people by virtue of their race, their religion, their sex, their sexual orientation, their gender identity, their age, their intersex variations or particular disabilities.

At that time, just a few short weeks ago, many positive words were said and that there was in-principle support for such a hate crimes bill to be introduced into this place should I bring it back as a private member's bill, so that is what I do today. I now seek leave to conclude my comments because I intend to come back with a full speech having released the bill out for proper consultation over the summer break.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.