The long-awaited Sackar Review of criminal law protections against hate speech will be released within two weeks following a parliamentary motion.
Greens LGBTQIA+ spokesperson Amanda Cohn moved the motion in the NSW Upper House on Wednesday night, describing the issue as critical.
“The issue is critical for the communities that we represent, and I am sure that every member of this place is interested in doing the best they can to prevent hate crimes in this State,” she said.
Cohn said MPs had been asked to consider several pieces of hate crime legislation, making it essential that the review be available to inform debate.
“Now, more than ever, particularly with the spate of hate crimes against LGBTQIA+ people in Sydney, this is a critical issue impacting the communities that we represent,” she said.
“We ought to have access to the expert review, which is already completed and has been handed to the Government.”
The Government received the completed review in November, following a six-month inquiry led by former NSW Supreme Court judge John Sackar.
The review examined whether existing protections against hate speech for vulnerable communities are sufficient and recommended possible improvements.
It also considered changes following the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025, which criminalises the intentional incitement of racial hatred, and assessed how such protections interact with rights such as the implied freedom of political communication and freedom of religion. The review also explored whether further criminal law reforms could strengthen social cohesion.
The Government has faced mounting pressure to release the report, despite repeated calls for its publication.
“We need to see that document, and we need to make sure that legislative reform is informed by that,” said independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich on Tuesday.
Premier Chris Minns said when asked about it on Tuesday that the Government had yet to make a decision on the review’s recommendations.
“We haven’t made a decision about it yet,” he said.
“It’s not something we are brushing under the carpet… we will look to next steps.”
However, Wednesday night’s motion has accelerated the timeline, with the Government now required to release the report within two weeks.
The motion received broad support across the chamber, with the Opposition pointing to recent media coverage as underscoring the review’s importance.
“I do not see any good reason why we should not have that report now, given everything that has been in the media over the past couple of weeks,” said Liberal MLC Chris Rath.
“What is the Government hiding? Does the report suggest that perhaps these laws have been counterproductive and maybe even encouraged more radicalism? We do not know, because the report has not been released,” said Libertarian MLC John Ruddick.
Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence told the Upper House he had not seen the review but supported its release.
“I am looking forward to the Sackar report if it does become public, and seeing an exploration of these terribly important and timely issues,” he said.
Opposition Attorney General Damien Tudehope said he was surprised Lawrence had not reviewed the document as he called for the release of the review.
“What is in the report that they do not want anyone to see?
“They do not want people like the Hon. Stephen Lawrence to see it, because if he does, there might be all hell to pay on the laws that they have been introducing and the material they have been holding back from their esteemed colleague.”
The government did not oppose the motion to release the review, which will be released to the public in due time.
