Pressure begins for Qld Labor to meet LGBTI election promises
EXPECTATIONS are high for Queensland’s聽recently sworn-in Palaszczuk-Labor Government聽to follow through with several LGBTI commitments made to the community during the election campaign in the areas of law, health and education.
The final confirmation of the January 31 election聽came at the end of a 13-day marathon of vote counting that saw the Labor party returned to power in a hung parliament with the support of聽Nicklin independent MP Peter Wellington.
One of 聽was the complete restoration of funding to Queensland AIDS Council (QuAC), .
New Health Minister Cameron Dick will now take on decisions about the future direction of the Queensland HIV sector. Based on his experience with Labor, QuAC executive director Michael Scott hoped for a collaborative approach.
鈥淏ased on the relationship we have with the Labor Party in opposition, we feel confident that the new government will be more collaborative with respect to its HIV response,鈥� Scott told the Star Observer.
Scott also hoped for an emphasis on working with key-affected communities and other best-practise approaches to tackling HIV.
鈥淚 would like to see urgently the development of a state-wide sexual health strategy for Queensland,” Scott said.
“New notifications did increase each year for the past three years, with the most alarming increase last year. Last year we saw an increase in notifications by more than 25 per cent.
鈥淚 would like to see the return to the partnership approach to HIV 鈥� which has worked well in Australia for the past 30聽years, and includes partnership between affected communities, government at all levels, researchers and community based organisations such as QuAC.
鈥淲ithout this partnership approach the response is not targeted and becomes more about self promotion, and less about health promotion.鈥�
LGBTI-specific law reform was another area canvassed by Labor in the election, with new Attorney-General Yvette D鈥橝th expected to deliver on several major reforms.
A return of civil unions, expungement of historical gay sex convictions, age of consent equalisation, surrogacy and adoption rights, and removing the聽“gay panic” defence were areas highlighted during the election campaign.
Brisbane Pride President and Queensland University of Technology law professor Peter Black hoped the new government would honour its commitments and work to implement the reforms in a timely manner.
Black worked with former Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie on the issue of gay sex conviction聽expungement and is currently drafting a discussion paper.
鈥淭he LGTBI Legal Service is currently finalising an issues paper on the expungement of historic gay sex convictions,” Black聽told the Star Observer.
“While in Government, the LNP had indicated that they would use this paper as the basis for law reform in this area.
鈥淚 would hope that the new Attorney-General and the ALP would similarly be able to advance this issue without referring it to the Law Reform Commission. This should be a non-controversial, bipartisan reform that can be done this year.鈥�
Black also believes that on the issues of age of consent equalisation and repeal of the “gay panic” defence, Labor should avoid any unnecessary delay.
鈥淓qualising the age of consent is another reform that should be able to be done without the need for it to be referred to committees and the like,” he said.
“Queensland is the only state in Australia that does not have an equal age of consent and I would hope that the new ALP Government would fix this inequality.
鈥淸‘Gay panic鈥� repeal] was considered by the Bligh-Labor Government and the then-Attorney-General Paul Lucas, who referred it to an expert panel. Those recommendations could easily be adopted by the new government without the time and expense of yet another committee or panel considering the issue.鈥�
However, Black acknowledged that some leeway should be given to the new government due to the make-up of the new parliament.
鈥淕iven that it is a minority government, it may well be that they will need to adopt such a process to give them the political cover necessary to implement some of these reforms,鈥� he said.
Same-sex adoption and surrogacy also came up for attention during the campaign, with Labor promising to not amend the laws that allow LGBTI altruistic surrogacy.
Surrogacy expert at Harrington Family Lawyers, Stephen Page, hoped the new government would move on extending adoption rights to same-sex couples.
鈥淚 would hope that Labor would seek that the Adoption Act is amended to remove鈥� discrimination,” Page told the Star Observer.
“I would have thought that the real test for children is not so much the gender and sexuality of the proposed intended adoptive parents, or even if they are single or a couple, but the paramount test: what is in the best interests of the child concerned.
鈥淚 am confident that Labor will not introduce legislation to discriminate against same-sex couples and singles in surrogacy.”
The roll-out of the Safe Schools Coalition across Queensland has been a聽passion project for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) national spokesperson Shelley Argent, who had high聽hopes for new Education Minister Kate Jones.
鈥淜ate is extremely supportive of LGBT rights and I truly believe she will do her utmost best to bring positive changes where she can in Queensland,鈥� Shelley told the Star Observer.
鈥淚 feel with Kate being the Education Minister she will be interested and actively listening to the Safe School Committee in Queensland. The last government, I believe did as little as possible to bring positive change but Kate will do what she can.鈥�
Argent expressed disappointment at what she saw to be prejudice towards the LGBTI community from the former LNP government.
鈥淭he LNP had no success because they were too right wing religiously and many brought their personal beliefs and values into parliament, which is wrong. They need to govern for everyone, not the chosen,鈥� Shelley said.
鈥淭he (former) Education Minister John Paul Langbroek had no concept of the pain he was causing or prolonging and I wonder if he would have truly cared anyway.鈥�
Shelley added聽that over the past three years under LNP leadership, the LGBTI community suffered.
鈥淚 think also when you have MPs like Fiona Simpson who believe you can pray the gay away, you immediately know you are in for a battle with the government generally,鈥� she said.
鈥淕enerally, the LNP government did nothing positive for the LGBT community in Queensland. Personally, I feel that half of the battle is now won.
鈥淭he second half is to ensure Labor keep their promises. My plan is to be fair and give them time to settle in鈥� But within a few weeks I will begin my calling and writing campaigns to ensure change does come to Queensland the LGBTI people of this state.鈥�
Right, time to get to work Labor in the only state unicameral legislature of Australia (Labor you have got 44 seats + 1 Independent = 45 total a majority)!
4 LGBTI Policy Areas:
* Re-introduce the Civil Partnership Act;
* Review and pass an equal age of consent legislation of 16 for all sexual activity (anal, oral and/or vaginal) in the Criminal Code;
* Abolish the gay panic defence (GPD); and
* Review the Adoption Act 2009 and pass a law to allow gay couples the right the adopt children
God willing it is a lie and it will never come to pass. There are far more urgent things to be concerned with than legalising sin. If it’s anything we DONT want to be like, and thats america. I hope this new parilment doesnt stoop to that level of stupid.
Notifications did NOT increase each year for the past 3 years. 2013 actually saw a 12% decrease. Bit of a concern that the Star Observer or worse still QuAC print incorrect information!
Promises become lies all too often these days, almost the accepted norm.
“Cameron Dick”
I am sure that with sufficient consistent prodding by media, including the Star Observer, Qld Labor will act on their promises. PFLAG’s Shelley Argent has their promise in writing. They advised her that equal age of consent reform (getting rid of the higher minimum age at 18 for sodomy) will be decided by an appointed expert committee. There is no credible opinion against the overwhelming evidence used in the rest of the nation to support equal age of consent reform (the most recent being NSW and NT in 2003). Queensland needs to make a priority of ensuring equality and non-discrimination for youth, and this has been a clear aspect of Queensland Labor’s written policy platform for at least a decade. Action is necessary as well as seriously overdue.
No, they won’t…and they will be blaming their Independent colleague.
Nothing will happen. Labor are famous for buttering us up. Uttering all the right words prior to an election to give hope they have changed.
The LNP tend to be more honest though usually we don’t like what they say.
The system needs changing. Matters stated as policy during election campaign and voted on by the public when we vote should automatically go on the agenda to be passed thru parliament in the next term. No blocking by opposition or upper house. Some fine tuning discussion then passed. Politicians promised. The voters decided. It should happen.
No party has implemented more policies supporting LGBTI community than Labor. Dont forget the LNP fed front bench is made up of several MP’s who actively oppose marriage equality and other LGBT rights, Kevin Andrews who belongs to a group that funded the Russian gay hate laws and Nigerian gay hate laws. He is anti abortion, claims pill causes rape and marriage cures cancer. Andrews even held a lunch for this scum Christian group in Parliament House using our taxpayer dollars. This lunch was supported by his QLD MP’s by their silence. Give Anastasia a go people
Very much doubt it.
Can we get our economy sorted first please? It’s still like a stagnant swamp. I can hang on 18 months for the rest if I know the economy is firing, my job is secure, and I feel like I can spend money on a ceremony.
sutupid fucking bitch
Could you phrase criticism of female politicians without reference to sexist language please?
…and Brett, learn to use your spell-checker thanks.
No. They never do.
Has Abbott ditched promises or has the Senate forced him to abandon plans
Both
They’ve seen what has happened to Tony Abbott when he ditched his election promises. Doubt this will be the first thing Annastacia deals with in office, but I have no doubt she’ll sort it before her first term is out.
Myself and my Queensland Greens will be watching closely
Labor will do it’s best no guarantee hung parliament could make things Difficult pass legislation
Yes
There might just be enough women in there to keep them honest.
LOL.
Like Gillard (a woman) voted against same sex marriage despite being an unmarried Athiest?
They are politicians. They lie everytime their lips move. Make or female.
I really hope she is true to her wordsade publicly and privately.
No.
The ALP typically ditches the gay community once they get into government – it’ll be interesting to see if this ALP govt breaks that mould.
ACT government legislated marriage equality before being struck down by the high court #justsayin
I’m just curious what your evidence for this is Chris?
You did notice that the last two Labor prime ministers opposed marriage equality, right?
Uh the last one was Rudd, who went to the last Federal election supporting it
Rudd changed his position before he got the job the second time, however I think the critical thing to remember is that if the liberals were allowed a conscience vote, it would happen
remember that time that all significant law reform has happened under Labor governments?
as an act of desperation – remember it was Rudd who was responsible for Penny Wong disavowing marriage equality publicly. The ALP has a powerful conservative catholic right wing – no one can lead the ALP (except in the ACT) without their support. Once a leader becomes premier or PM, appeasing their own fag-hating factional warlords is much more important to survival than gay voters
There is a lot more than marriage equality, but you posted to say that they “ditch the gay community once they get into government”, which is a much broader claim indicating that Labor ‘breaks promises post election on gay issues’…