The inquiry, established to examine anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes in Victoria, heard evidence that these attacks are a resurgence of long-present hatred, now amplified by digital platforms. Offences have been primarily perpetrated by young men in peri-urban areas such as outer northern and southeastern Melbourne. Motivations range from homophobia and thrill-seeking to financial gain.
Victim-survivor David Brown shared his experience during a hearing: "They did not care about getting caught, because they did not see that they were doing anything wrong. They turned up to a park with a knife bigger than any of you have in your kitchen and held it to me and did not see any problem with that. It was just pure hatred." Brown noted that after seeking emergency care, he saw his assailants' profiles reappear on the dating app, indicating they were "ready to do it again."
The committee emphasised that under-reporting remains likely due to stigma still attached to male same-sex desire, particularly among migrants from countries where consensual same-sex intimacy remains unlawful. More than 60 countries still criminalise such relationships.
Last month in Melbourne, police arrested five men accused of homophobic attacks, underscoring the ongoing nature of the threat. The report calls for a concerted effort to keep LGBTQIA+ people safe, acknowledging that while this kind of hate is not new, it is intensifying and requires targeted intervention.