Muslims and Jews the targets of most NSW hate crime

The study of hate crime patterns in New South Wales found more than 70 per cent of religiously-motivated crimes targeted Muslims with Jews the second most victimised group.

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

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

The study, undertaken by Criminology Professor Gail Mason, has revealed the prevalence of race and religion-based hate crimes - according to official records held by New South Wales Police.

The study found that crimes motivated by racial, ethnic and religious bias made up 81 per cent of all bias crime reports to police.

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

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