Clark has said that Faith Based Organisation will not be able to refuse services to anyone, but once bill is signed into law will be able to discriminate regarding employment. IMO no organisation that gets public money should be able to discriminate unless they can prove good reason on a case by case basis.
The Coalition and the Libs want to do away with the Bill of Rights now, wonder what a socially conservative coalition would look like compared to this “Progressive or Moderate” one?

Pity Clem Newton Brown didn’t cross the floor, maybe he does actually believe in the changes? or given majority of only 1 the Coalition have he has been whipped into submission by his party. Guess we will see long term impact next election in 2014 he probably hopes his LGBT constituents would have forgotten by then…

What Prahran MP Clem Newton-Brown does not want to tell you, is the changes do just apply to education, they are to thousands of jobs across the welfare sector, the disability sector, the aged care sector, foster agencies, service for young people and many more.

Clem has being misleading people as he is shit scared of getting held to account.

What will Andrea Coote do in the Upper House – she has always been progressive and crossing the floor could lead to the Bill failing?

PS To be fair Robert Clark is Buddhist.

As such, petition your local MLC to vote against this legislation in the Upper House.

We have been asked to wear a pink triangle by the Liberal/National Party. Jewish people are asked to wear a yellow star.

I remember when Robert Clark last had control of the Liberal Party. A gay man walked out of a cinema and was charged with having a deadly weapon. It was a small studded belt. He did no crime and was leaving the cinema after a movie. How many of us have done that? Heterosexual people wore them but were not charged. This was a time when police tapped the phones of GLBTI journalist. When people were stripped searched at the Tasty Night Club. And when police went to parties dressed in drag and then strip searched everyone. Those were terrible times. But we are now returning to them. Petery Ryan is seeking to get rid of the GLBTI liason office in the police, and he is knifing the head of the police as he is seen to close to justice and equality for all. They want to replace him with a conservative man, like they had when the Liberal/National Party last had power. One who can change the culture in the police force.

There is a campaign of absolute terror being unleashed in Victoria by the Liberal/National Party. They are turning back the clock.

This will effect you. It is not a matter of if but when.

Andrea Coote is MLC Southern Metropolitan Region

“Andrea was elected to Parliament in 1999 and her Electorate, the Southern Metropolitan Region includes the lower house electorates of Albert Park; Bentleigh; Brighton; Burwood; Caulfield; Hawthorn; Kew; Malvern; Prahran; Oakleigh and Sandringham. In this capacity Andrea deals with many issues of importance to her constituents:- planning, housing, transport, education and health are the issues for which people mainly come to her for assistance .Her electorate is very diverse encompassing the Yarra River, Port Philip Bay, the Shrine, the very wealthy, the very poor and homeless, the gay community, the Jewish community… Andrea is interested in them all!”

Wikipedia

“During her first term, Coote also became notable for her support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. While the Liberal Party, as a conservative party, has traditionally opposed any liberalisation in this area, Coote became one of a small group of Liberal Legislative Councillors . . . . that lobbied for gay-friendly changes in party policy. . . . . The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby specifically singled out Coote for praise, describing her as “very proactive on gay issues.” ”

Electorate Office
Address 306 Bay Street, Port Melbourne 3207
Phone (03) 9681 9555
Fax (03) 9681 9792
Email Address andrea.coote@parliament.vic.gov.au

Today the Victorian Liberal/National Party has shredded all concepts of fairness and dignity when they repealed the Equal Opportunity Act to exclude GLBTI people from vast amounts of government services and jobs. Billions of dollars are given to religious businesses, often in a monopoly, to run thousands of essential services. But purely on the basis of your sexuality, you can study all you want, have all the relevant experience, and be denied the job. This was against the Uniting Church, and Anglican Bishop John McIntyre’s advice. John argued religious businesses should have no excuse to discriminate against GLBTI people, as it is breach of a fundamental Human right. (Read more: )

The actions of the Liberal/National Party, to reinvent what a Human Right is, and to determine that you should not have access to many services due to your birth, is a monumental change in direction for Victoria. It represents an attack on your dignity. Your right not to have to follow a particular religion to keep employment, your right to seek employment based on your ability and experience, and your right to access a government service and not to have to follow a particular religion to access that service.

The former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett said employing a homosexual is like employing a Child Sex Offender. I cannot help but think this new Liberal Premier is following in his footsteps. (Read more: )

On the horizon, the new Christian Fundamentalist Attorney-General, Robert Clark, has now announced a review of the Charter of rights in Victoria, with a view to removing protections of GLBTI people from this also.

It is important to understand that we are now at war. We are fighting to save what we have gained over the last 30years. This war will leave no person untouched by the end of it. Gay bars will once again be the subject of constant police strip searches, and those who have children will be targeted. ( Read more: ) You are also now being excluded from a range of government services. This is how it starts.

Peter Ryan the National Party head is trying to knife Simon Overlander, the Police Commissioner, for marching in Pride, and daring to show he stands for justice and equality. Bit by bit they are attacking those who stand with us for equality. They are removing the obstacles so they will be free to turn back the clock.

Not one member of the Liberal/National Party, not one, stood up for you. All of them voted to remove your rights. All of them voted to get you in the neck.