What does a Barnett Liberal Government mean for us?
Now that the Liberals have won government in an accord with the Nationals, what can we expect?
Historically, the West Australian Liberal Party has been appalling on our issues. It strongly opposed equal ages of consent, anti-discrimination laws, lesbian parenting, adoption, Family Court access for same-sex couples and more. At its homophobic peaks in 1989, mid 90s and 2001, Liberals openly vilified gay and lesbian people. They spoke at anti-gay rallies, pandered to the fear mongering of the Religious Right and associated themselves with hate groups to denounce us. (more…)
Applauding Equality
On the 30th of April 2008, the Federal Government announced that current financial inequities between same-sex couples and heterosexual couples in Australia will finally be rectified. The areas of inequality include superannuation schemes, social security, veterans’ entitlements, workplace relations, workers’ compensation, taxation, health and immigration and citizenship. (more…)
Do We Really Need Marriage?
The federal Government’s long overdue announcement that it will progressively eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples in federal legislation is to be welcomed. We will, however, still need to be vigilant in ensuring all laws around the country, federal and state, including those relating to family law, adoption and assisted reproductive technology, are reformed. (more…)
The People of the Reform
Former Democrat Senator Brian Grieg looks back on the movement for federal reform…
When news came through of the sweeping reforms to Federal laws for same-sex couples, my mind immediately turned to that cold wet night in Melbourne in 1994, when I met with Greg Browne for pizza and coffee in Brunswick Street. Greg was founder of ‘Homo Defactos,’ a short lived but important vehicle to highlight discrimination in Superannuation, and along with Rodney Croome and a handful of other GLBT activists, he sparked the national agitation on Commonwealth reform. Until then, most campaigners were rightly focused on state issues and state laws. It wasn’t long after this that Democrat Senator Sid Spindler introduced his ‘Sexuality Anti-Discrimination Bill’, which triggered a nationwide senate inquiry and carried the message of same-sex equality into Federal parliament. (more…)
Tirades of a Transman
First, it was COP IN ‘TRANNY HOOKER SEX’ RELATIONSHIP!
This week, it’s INCREDIBLE PREGNANT MAN!!
To be followed up (entirely coincidentally) by SENATOR’S SEX CHANGE PARTNER – an article in our very own West featuring yours truly.
It seems we’re having a media special on stories about transsexuals, and the copious amount of press has served to make one thing very, very clear to me: the trans* community has a long, long way to go. (more…)
What does the federal election result mean for us?
The 24th of November 2007 was a watershed moment in Australian politics. It saw a Conservative Government, which presides over a strong economy and record low unemployment, swept aside in a tide of change that cost the Prime Minister his seat.
It also saw Labor pick up 20 seats in the House of Representatives; the Greens record their greatest result and attain parliamentary party status; and the disappearance of the Democrats from Parliament. (more…)
OUTPolitics - The Election Wrapup
Post-election parties around the country were responsible for many a hangover after party faithfuls around the country toasted victory or drowned their sorrows. Where to now? Our political columnists explore the aftermath of the ‘Rudd-slide’…
GREENS
What an election weekend! The end of the Howard Government is something to celebrate. While I am still cautious about predicting what kind of Government Kevin Rudd will lead, we will no longer have to fear some of the worst excesses of the Coalition Government – Work Choices, an inhumane refugee policy, refusal to acknowledge the reality of climate change, etc. (more…)
Election ‘07: Guides for GLBTQs
With Election Day (Saturday, November 24th) drawing closer and campaigns getting dirtier, OUTinPerth’s political team has compiled a list of useful links for understanding the positions of various parties and their candidates.
Both the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) and the Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) asked the various parties their position on a range of issues from gay marriage to adoption, from HIV and immigration to sexual diversity education in schools. They then compiled the responses and rated the commitment of each party to equality for the GLBT community. (more…)
Politics - Does the Pink Vote Matter?
Hi! It’s nice to be back in the pages of OUTinPerth after a long relaxing holiday…I was hoping I might get to write about something juicy, like gossip, but politics? The editor is braver than I thought!
If you’re anything like me you probably equate politics (at least the ins and outs of party politics) with boredom, and to borrow a hackneyed phrase you may have ‘switched off at this stage of the election cycle’ - if you ever got switched on! (Of course the blood-bath of election night coverage is another matter entirely…). However, after endless months of pre-election campaigning the end is finally in sight with Election ‘07 on Saturday November 24. (more…)
The Party Lines Scorecard
GALE Convenor Rod Swift takes a look at the major form of the political parties on GLBTIQ issues.
It only happens every three years, but take note – a Federal election is imminent and if history is any guide, then the election date is tipped to be any time between 27 October and 8 December.
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