'Hate' is subjective: whether speech or crime

Dear Minister Goldsmith, 

'Hate' is an important term referencing a powerful emotion. Where individuals in our society are targets of hate, we must work to counter this hate and promote tolerance and inclusiveness. 

'Hate' is a powerful term, but an unavoidably subjective one; this is true whether it is used against word or action.

It is not the role of our criminal justice system or laws more generally to regulate this emotion. 

We have insisted that 'hate' speech laws would simply introduce a means to censor unpopular opinions. We applaud your decision to stop work on these proposals.  

'Hate' crime laws suffer from the same weaknesses and have no place in a liberal democracy that values freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the rule of law. 

Introducing 'hate' crime laws would see police and the judiciary tasked with deciding if one individual acted more criminally than another despite breaking the very same law, based on their motivations not their actions. 

We have no interest in defending criminal actions. If an individual breaks the law, they must be held accountable. But the law must apply impartially, regardless of who breaks it. There aren't 'right' reasons to break the law, or reasons that are 'more wrong' than others.

Breaking the law for 'hate' shouldn't stand alone as a category any more than breaking the law for 'love'. Who is impartial enough to determine objectively when either of these would apply? 

Keep our laws impartial, the rule of law strong, and our speech and consciences free. 


We call on Hon. Paul Goldsmith, the Minister of Justice, to reject all advice to develop 'hate' crime legislation that would introduce unacceptable subjectivity into our laws, and be used to target unpopular perspectives and unorthodox beliefs. 

2,072 signature
Goal: 5000 signature

Will you sign?

Showing 1429 reactions

  • Kevin Butcher
    signed 2024-08-02 11:53:41 +1200
  • Peter Hardie
    signed 2024-08-01 17:13:08 +1200
  • James Robbins
    signed 2024-08-01 10:58:34 +1200
    Dear Minister Goldsmith, applying restrictions on speech on the basis of “hate” is madness. Madness and stupidity. That is all.
  • Andrea Trapp
    signed 2024-08-01 08:28:40 +1200
  • Kyle Schaeffer
    signed 2024-07-31 20:13:34 +1200
  • Mark Nihotte
    signed 2024-07-31 15:35:42 +1200
  • Ben Tait
    signed 2024-07-31 11:18:43 +1200
  • John Gray
    signed 2024-07-31 10:50:08 +1200
  • Markus Sawyer
    signed 2024-07-31 09:18:33 +1200
  • Chaquila Venter
    signed 2024-07-31 08:56:22 +1200
  • Cole Ryan
    signed 2024-07-31 07:54:41 +1200
    Keep our laws impartial, the rule of law strong, and our speech and consciences free.
  • daniel lee
    signed 2024-07-30 12:11:34 +1200
  • Colin Miller
    signed 2024-07-30 11:49:26 +1200
  • Merv. Nicolle
    signed 2024-07-29 20:32:50 +1200
  • Matt Donoghue
    signed 2024-07-29 19:55:31 +1200
    The only people who talk about hate speech, are those who hate speech. No restrictions please, if you loose free speech you are no longer a free country.
  • Matthew Bolton
    signed 2024-07-29 08:43:57 +1200
  • Jorrit De Vries
    signed 2024-07-27 17:35:23 +1200
  • Yvonne Kendrick
    signed 2024-07-26 10:37:03 +1200
  • James Smith
    signed 2024-07-26 02:50:13 +1200
    Best way to silence divergent voices and those with a moral code. If you don’t recognise my delusion you hate me. Another path to loose morality.
  • Jason Meyer
    signed 2024-07-25 20:56:32 +1200
  • Melissa Moore
    signed 2024-07-24 17:22:22 +1200
  • Colin Heeney
    signed 2024-07-24 13:45:35 +1200
  • Amanda Claudatos
    signed 2024-07-23 11:21:36 +1200
  • Bruce McKenzie
    signed 2024-07-12 07:35:36 +1200
    Legislating against hate speech is like legislating against fear. “Stop saying you’re afraid. You are upsetting the rest of us.” Insanity.
  • Jonathan Rivers
    signed 2024-07-10 16:05:44 +1200
  • Corbon Loughnan
    signed 2024-07-05 11:25:01 +1200
  • Stephen Tucker
    signed 2024-07-04 22:18:36 +1200
  • Lorraine Evans
    signed 2024-07-04 20:00:39 +1200
  • Luke Earl
    signed 2024-07-04 10:02:24 +1200
  • Louis Arthur Godinet
    signed 2024-07-03 11:23:12 +1200

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