Victoria promises funding boost in event of plebiscite
Image: Daniel Andrews MP. Photo: Matthew Wade
The Victorian Government has announced it will provide $500,000 to support the state鈥檚 LGBTI community if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull鈥檚 proposed marriage equality plebiscite goes ahead.
The major funding package will include an awareness campaign, and a funding increase for LGBTI mental health agencies and support services.
This week the federal cabinet approved plans to hold a plebiscite on February 11 next year, with both the 鈥測es鈥� and 鈥渘o鈥� campaigns expected to receive $7.5 million in funding.
Turnbull also presented his to parliament, after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introduced his own private members bill to legalise same-sex marriage.
Minister for Equality Martin Foley said Victoria needs to be geared to protect its LGBTI citizens.
鈥淭his plebiscite is unnecessary 鈥� it鈥檚 a Liberal Party opinion poll that sets a dangerous precedent at an unnecessary expense,鈥� he said.
鈥淎 campaign hasn鈥檛 even started yet and we鈥檙e already seeing the impact, that鈥檚 why Victoria needs to be ready to stand by our LGBTI community.
鈥淲e will act quickly to ensure our agencies have additional resources and our community is aware of the need to support their friends and neighbours during a damaging campaign.鈥�
The funding package is part of a broader $27 million investment over four years to implement a suicide prevention framework across the state.
Earlier this week 60 LGBTI groups around the country came together to condemning a plebiscite.
鈥淲e ask the Australian Parliament to remember that this is about members of your families, friends, colleagues, and teammates who simply want their relationships to be afforded the same dignity and value as their fellow Australians,鈥� said Anna Brown, co-chair of Australians for Equality.
