READ THE ANSWERS
Coalition
Contact details for all parliamentarians:
Parliament
of NSW
John Brogden MP
NSW Liberal Leader
GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS LOBBY SURVEY RESPONSE
Is your party committed to equality for lesbians and gay men in NSW?
The NSW Coalition is committed to equality for all people in NSW .
Please explain the strategies that your party will adopt to ensure such equality.
The NSW Coalition in Government is prepared to examine any appropriate
recommendations or reports made to it regarding legislative reforms or
other
strategies designed to overcome inequality for any members of the community.
Does your party have a dedicated portfolio area with responsibility for issues relating to lesbians and gay men and equality for homosexuals? Does your party have a spokesperson/s for lesbian and gay issues?
No
Does your party support an equal age of consent of 16 for all persons in NSW regardless of gender or sexuality?
The Liberal Party allows a conscience vote on this issue.
Will your party introduce legislation into Parliament that will amend the Crimes Act, so that an equal age of consent of 16 is realised? (Please provide a timeframe for the implementation of such legislation.)
No. Like the Labor Party we would address such a bill brought before
the
Parliament as a Private Member’s bill.
As a report by the University of NSW (2001) demonstrated, there are significant negative health and welfare implications for young gay men of an unequal age of consent. If your party does not support an equal age of consent, how will the health and welfare needs of young gay men be addressed?
The NSW Government funds the AIDS Council of NSW (ACON) with about $6.5
million a year. ACON over the past few years has evolved into a group
that
caters to general gay and lesbian health issues not just HIV/AIDS. I believe
ACON is the best placed group to identify and deal with health issues
affecting
gay men and lesbians.
Does your party have a commitment to implementing legislation and policy, which will properly recognise lesbian and gay families, as well as the rights of lesbians and gay men as parents?
No.
Does your party support the legal recognition of partners of biological parents as co-parents of a child born through artificial insemination ("DI")?
The Coalition believes that any legislation of policy should first act
in the best
interests of the child concerned.
Will your party support amending the Adoption Act, in order to allow same-sex couples the right to adopt children in the same way that heterosexual couples may adopt children?
No
Will your party enact legislation that will amend the Anti-Discrimination Act, so that charities, religious bodies, voluntary bodies, and aged care organisations are not exempt from complying with the provisions relating to discrimination on the grounds of homosexuality when providing publicly funded social welfare, health and community services?
No
Will your party enact legislation that will amend the Anti-Discrimination Act, to extend the provisions relating to discrimination on the grounds of marital status to provide protection to same-sex de facto relationships (as is currently the case for heterosexual de facto relationships)?
No
How does your party plan on making the Anti-Discrimination Act more accessible to lesbians and gay men (eg, making people more aware of the process to be undertaken if they have been discriminated against)?
The Coalition in Government would always be prepared to seriously consider any recommendation made to it by the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to ensure full and fair access for all people.
What strategies will your party employ in order to combat homophobia, violence and harassment experienced by lesbians and gay men in NSW?
The Coalition would increase gaol penalties by 25 percent for any crime,
which
is motivated by hate. The Coalition would act in consultation with the
relevant
authorities and community leaders to implement sustainable strategies
to
combat homophobia. This would include continuing the support for antihomophobia
education in schools.
Will your party enact and/or support, through the provision of funding, programs in all NSW secondary schools, which aim to educate and prevent the high level of homophobia that occurs within these institutions, at home and in the community generally?
A Coalition Government continue to support the current Personal Development,
Health and Physical Education syllabus in secondary schools that is aimed
at
the development of the whole person and the improvement of quality of
life for
all. One of the key aspects of this syllabus is developing a respect by
students
for the values and attitudes of others. This includes questioning all
forms of
discrimination against people on grounds of their gender, race, martial
status,
sexuality or disability.
Will your party amend the following pieces of legislation, so that the relationships of lesbians and gay men are fully recognised under NSW law (please provide an expected timeframe for the implementation of such legislation):
i. Coal and Oil Shale Mine Workers (Superannuation) Act 1941
ii. Public Authorities Superannuation Act 1985
iii. Local Government Act 1993
iv. Industrial Relations Act 1996
v. Human Tissue Act 1984
In Government the Coalition Attorney General would as a matter of good government practice seek to review any existing legislation that is highlighted by the community as not having met the objectives of any law reforms.
What commitments will your party make to the particular health needs of lesbians and gay men in NSW?
A Coalition Government will consult widely with individuals and relevant Non- Government Organisations on issues relating to gay and lesbian health. Whether it establishes an advisory committee will depend on those consultations.
Will you enact/support programs that take a holistic approach to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention (eg adopting policy that recognises the social and economic as well as the health impact of HIV/AIDS for people living with, and affected by, the disease)? Please give details.
The Coalition is mindful that recent reviews have shown:
- a significant decline in the number of hospital admissions and provision
of day-only treatments - a decline in the average length of stay for inpatient admissions
- increasing demand for pharmacy services and pathology related to
monitoring the effect of drug therapy - a reduction in demand for palliative care services
- a higher proportion of care being provided on an outpatient basis
and in
general practice - an increasing complexity in outpatient and general practice consultations
due to the intricacies of therapy - a reduction in demand for home nursing
- an increase in demand for mental health and drug and alcohol services
- an increase in demand for supported accommodation and respite
services related to the neuropsychiatric, other mental health and drug
and alcohol problems - a reduction in demand for allied health services arising from treatment
of
opportunistic diseases, particularly those based in the community, but an
increase in demand for rehabilitation services.
However, it is noted that, due to uncertainty of sustainability of treatment
advances, it is not possible to project future demand for services.
As such, the Coalition will continue to ensure sufficient funding for
hospital
care and support community based programs which provide support,
counselling, advice on re-entering employment and managing finances,
therapeutic massage and treatment using a non-medical model.
How will your party counteract the growing number of lesbian and gay youth who are homeless or living in poverty?
The NSW Coalition has announced a comprehensive policy for Seniors which does not discriminate on the basis of gender or sexuality. This policy includes concessions for Self Funded Retirees.
What measures will your party take to ensure that lesbians and gay men have better access to medical services, in particular those that relate to the treatment of illnesses which are prevalent among gays and lesbians ( cervical cancer in lesbians)
The Coalition already has released significant policies in health care which will cut waiting lists, reduce emergency department waiting times and improve the quality of health care for all NSW residents.
What policies will you implement to address the issue of youth suicide by lesbians and gay youth . Does your party prioritise lesbian and gay youth suicide as a major issue facing youth in NSW?
The Coalition recognises there is a link between youth suicide and issues
of
gender, particularly where young people feel isolated from support and
services
which are sympathetic to their needs.
These issues will be addressed in the Coalition's Youth Suicide Prevention
strategy.
How will your party counteract the growing number of lesbian and gay youth who are homeless or living in poverty?
The Coalition has committed itself to employing an extra 200 additional extra workers in the Department of Community Services who are at the front line in dealing with family breakdown.
Will your party create/support programs and initiatives focusing on assisting lesbian and gay youth in the process of “coming out”?
The Coalition would be willing to listen to any research or constructive
data on
this issue.
Is your party committed to involving lesbian and gay rights group and other appropriate community organisations in the process of making decisions and setting priorities on issues affecting the rights and lesbians and gay men?
Where appropriate yes.
How does your party currently fulfill this commitment?
There are numerous organisations which have access to the Liberal party
and
we would listen to their advice.
How does your party plan on involving gay and lesbians rights groups and other appropriate community organisations in the policy, planning and service delivery of issues affecting gays and lesbians in the next parliament and beyond.
Consultation and access through a whole of government approach..