Equality Tasmania has welcomed funding in the 2026-27 Tasmanian State Budget for a ground-breaking program supporting intersex people, but says the budget falls short in funding the State Government’s LGBTIQA+ Strategy and Action Plan.
The budget, handed down on Thursday, provides three-year funding for Better Lives, a program that educates service providers and community members about the lives and needs of Tasmanians with innate variations of sex characteristics. However, only $10,000 has been added to an existing $202,000 allocation to implement the Government’s first LGBTIQA+ Strategy and Action Plan.
Olivia Hogarth, CEO of LGBTIQA+ support and training service, Working It Out, welcomed the continued funding of Better Lives.
“Working It Out welcomes the Government’s commitment to supporting intersex Tasmanians by funding the Better Lives program,” she said.
“This funding will enable this nation-leading program to continue its vital role in providing education and support to the Department of Health and the broader health sector to improve outcomes for people with innate variations of sex characteristics, also known as intersex.”
Equality Tasmania spokesperson Rodney Croome said it is disappointing the whole-of-government Strategy and Action Plan would not receive great funding.
“Research from the University of Tasmania shows that LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians experience higher levels of discrimination and abuse, higher mental health risk, higher housing risk, lower incomes, lower educational outcomes and difficulties accessing services, all because of prejudice and stigma.”
“We welcome the funding already allocated but it won’t be enough to fund the Government’s own commitments, let alone ensure LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians have the same opportunities as other Tasmanians.”
“One important priority for our community that hasn’t been funded yet is a dedicated mental health service to address the fact that rates of mental health distress experienced by LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians are higher than for other Tasmanians or for LGBTIQA+ people in other states.”
Olivia Hogarth said the Strategy and Action Plan funding was a positive step but insufficient.
“Our service sees the deep disadvantages still faced by LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians because of stigma, prejudice, discrimination and barriers to accessing services, so we welcome the Government’s allocation.”
“However, more is required to meet the needs of our communities.”
Rodney Croome said a number of government departments are currently working on initiatives to address discrimination and exclusion against LGBTIQA+ people.
“It will become clearer to us in the next few days how many existing programs will continue and how many may be cut,” he said.
