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Gillard Ministry — unique opportunities |
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News -
Australian News
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Written by AUSTRALIAN COALITION FOR EQUALITY
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Monday, 13 September 2010 00:34 |
GILLARD GOVERNMENT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LGBTI COMMUNITY
PENNY WONG GIVEN CHANCE TO REGAIN TRUST OF LGBTI COMMUNITY
The Australian Coalition for Equality today welcomed the announcement of the Gillard Ministry, as it prepares to write to Ministers regarding the range of LGBTI issues hoping to be addressed during the current parliamentary term.
ACE spokesperson Corey Irlam welcomed the appointment of a range of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries who had a good track record on LGBTI matters.
"The new Gillard Government and her Ministry presents unique opportunities for the LGBTI community to ensure its issues are given a fair hearing," said Mr Irlam.
"The reforms to parliamentary procedures, specifically the increase in private members time, will mean that socially progressive issues such as marriage equality can be advanced through the Parliament. Also the appointment of sympathetic Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries can open doors, and ears, on policy issues like the anti-discrimination review, LGBTI ageing and a range of other issues that affect the LGBTI community."
As part of responses to the ACE 2010 Federal Election survey, the ALP, Greens and Coalition all committed to federal anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTI community members. The ALP has indicated it will do this through a harmonisation and consolidation project that will be conducted jointly by the reappointed Attorney-General Robert McClelland MP and the new Minister for Deregulation Senator Penny Wong.
In responding to the election survey the ALP said that "As part of this (harmonisation project), Federal Labor will include protections against discrimination on the basis of a person's sexual orientation or gender status." However in relation to protection on the basis of relationship status, the ALP did not provide a firm commitment, rather deferring to the harmonisation project's consultation processes. The harmonisation project will also need to address the specific detail of how to protect intersex people, ensuring the full spectrum of the trans* community is included within definitions and ensuring unwarranted exemptions are not included in future legislation.
Mr Irlam said that Minister's Wong intimate involvement within the anti-discrimination harmonisation project presents a "chance to rebuild the trust between Penny Wong and the LGBTI community" by ensuring the maximum protection is included in reforms to anti-discrimination laws.
"During the recent election many in the LGBTI community were dismayed by comments over marriage equality made by Minister Wong. Some defended her statements as being unfortunate but expected due to her cabinet obligations to the ALP's current position on marriage equality." said Mr Irlam
"Well, the ALP policy on federal anti-discrimination is clearly on the side of the LGBTI community. We hope Minister Wong will use this opportunity to publicly show she is a defender of LGBTI community, as she did in the Senate during the 2008 removal of same-sex discrimination debates. In doing so, we hope this will strengthen the relationship between Minister Wong and the LGBTI community."
ACE also welcomed the appointment of Tanya Plibersek to Minister for Social Inclusion, Mark Butler to Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Kate Lundy for Parliamentary Secretary for Prime Minister and Cabinet and Jan McLucas for Families, Health, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
"While not discounting the broad support for LGBTI issues across most members of the Ministry; Plibersek, Butler, Lundy and McLucas have all have a strong and productive history on issues affecting the LGBTI community. ACE welcomes ongoing dialogue with all MP's regarding issues affecting LGBTI Australians."
For further comment please contact: Corey Irlam 0401 738 996 |
