|
20 March 2007 - Major parties lag behind in GLBT policies |
|
Results from the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby’s and ACON’s state election survey have revealed major parties are lagging behind independents and smaller parties in their commitments to legislative and social equality for lesbians and gay men.
The Australian Labor Party demonstrated a commitment to addressing homophobic violence and homophobia in schools, as well as highlighting a history of reform including the recognition of same sex relationships under NSW law. However, the ALP refused to make commitments to introduce state civil unions or long-awaited parenting reforms that would to legally recognise same sex parents of a child born through donor insemination. Despite some supportive individual candidates, the NSW Liberal party did not respond to the election survey. “Our community needs to demand more from the major parties. The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby has been working with the Attorney General’s Department for three years on reform to recognise same-sex partners who have a child through donor insemination as equal legal parents. The ALP should have made a commitment to this reform,” said Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby Policy and Development Coordinator, Ghassan Kassisieh.
Overall, the NSW Greens and Clover Moore (Independent, Sydney) showed the greatest level of understanding of GLBT issues and commitment to working towards reform across areas affecting the GLBT community. The NSW Democrats, Robert Oakeshott (Independent, Port Macquarie) and David Barr (Independent, Manly) all demonstrated their commitment to reform, but had less of an understanding about GLBT issues than the Greens or Moore.
“The pro-active commitment to equality demonstrated by the NSW Greens may result in them having a powerful voice in pushing the eventual government on reform, particularly if they achieve a balance of power in the upper house”, Kassisieh added.
|
