Muslims and Jews the targets of most NSW hate crime

Police records of hate crime in Australia have been analysed for the first time by University of Sydney researchers.

The Christchurch Massacre is an extreme example of hate crimes around the world, but hate has been a motivation for crimes in Australia too. Source: AAP

The study, undertaken by Criminology Professor Gail Mason, found crimes motivated by racial, ethnic and religious bias made up 81 per cent of all bias crime reports to New South Wales police.

 

The most common-reported ethnicity was 'Asian' at 28 per cent, followed by 'Indian or Pakistani' at 20 per cent.

 

The most common victim religion was 'Muslim' at 73 per cent, and Jewish at 14 per cent.

 

Acting Chief Executive Offcer at the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, Mohammad Al-Khafaji, says while the results are worrying, they don't come as a surprise.