Comments on: Parliamentarians should represent their constituents not self-interest

By: Peter de Groot

Peter de Groot — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 13:20:59 +0000

I will first confess that Clem Newton-Brown is not my local my member.

But it was I that brought to Clem’s attention that many older gay men had been charged in Victoria with the crime of “homosexuality” and thus could suffer; employment problems, visa travel problems plus mental health issues.

I was very pleased to see The Victorian Coalition government thus bring into policy the extinguishment of the crime of homosexuality being the first state to do so.

Australia has seen long term Labor state governments in Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and NSW not introduce extinguishment of the record of the crime of homosexuality but rather play politics.

The ALP and The Green Party has yet to elect an openly gay or lesbian in the state of Victoria. The Liberal party had it’s first openly gay elected candidate in 1999.

The ALP have had 15 years to find a safe seat for a GLBTIQ candidate and they have not done so.

The best candidates are candidates that have proven record in achieving results for their communities are good listeners and are well known for attending community events; that makes Clem Newton-Brown a great MP.

By: Lea Stevens

Lea Stevens — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 21:57:45 +0000

Conned the Gay Community into voting for him in the first place and it serves you right for voting for the Liberal Party at all – they have not nothing for the LGBTIQ Community, do not understand the Gay Community at all and hate everything that it represents and stands for … now it’s ‘ oh dear – poor pitiful me, I have been deceived and let down ‘ well just suck it up and learn the lesson sweetheart, maybe next time you won’t be so gullible.

By: Name (required)

Name (required) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:33:02 +0000

This is pitiful.

For one, the implication that his LGBTIQ opponent can’t represent the community’s interest by virtue of his sexual orientation is both shameful and complete nonsense.

Where were you, Clem, when the Premier said at Midsumma homosexuality was okay “in the privacy of your own homes”?

Where were you, Clem, when the then-Premier repealed protections for LGBTIQ people meaning hardworking teachers and doctors can be sacked?

To paraphrase a former Prime Minister, I will not be lectured about what’s best for the LGBTIQ community by this heterosexual man.

FYI, Clem, blaming Penny Wong for not achieving marriage equality is as pathetic as the absence of any apology from half your frontbench for what they’ve said about LGBTIQ people.

If you want to see the biggest change to LGBTIQ rights in a generation, move a motion in the State Parliament. Of course, you never will.