Australia has reached a "tipping point” in its tolerance for online hate speech, with a large majority of people calling for new laws to tackle the growing problem.

A nationally representative survey of 3737 adults found seven out of 10 respondents would support further legislation to stop the spread of hateful content online.

Most people acknowledged legislation alone would not be enough, with nearly eight of 10 adults also calling for social networks to do more to tackle the problem.

The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, says legislation would need to set a high bar for cyber-abuse. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who ordered the research, said she was not surprised by the strong support for action.