As this weekend’s Federal election looms, Labor, the Greens and the Democrats have all committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Australia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community.
The commitments from the three parties are contained in their responses to a questionnaire from the National GLBT Health Alliance, a coalition of organisations from across Australia that provide programs, services and research in the areas of GLBT health and HIV/AIDS.
The questionnaire was sent to the major parties after the election was called five weeks ago.
The parties were asked to provide commitments on a range of issues important to GLBT health and wellbeing including ageing, HIV and sexual health, alcohol and drug use, mental health, violence and homophobia, Indigenous health, rural issues, relationship recognition and other forms of legislative discrimination.
Responses were received from Labor, the Greens and the Democrats. No responses were received from the Coalition or Family First.
Alliance spokesperson David Scamell says the ALP committed to a range of measures to improve GLBT health while the Greens and Democrats provided general support across the board.
‘It’s unfortunate that the Coalition and Family First have chosen not to respond as this makes it difficult to provide a full comparative analysis,’ he says.
‘However, we’ll be using the results of this questionnaire to put pressure on Labor, the Greens and the Democrats to honour their commitments should any of those parties hold power in either House after the election.’
Among Labor’s responses, the party has committed to a review of the aged care industry to ensure it meets the needs of GLBT people and to extending the $290 million Commonwealth Dental Health Program to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS. Labor has also committed to implementing the HREOC recommendations on same-sex entitlements as well as funding an education program about the new laws.
The Democrats also committed to implementing the HREOC reforms and to establishing a special Commonwealth advisory panel on GLBT health. The Democrats also committed to reviewing mental health services for GLBT people and supported better funding for each of the National HIV/AIDS, STI and Hep C Research Centres.
The Greens went one step further than the HREOC recommendations and committed to removing all discrimination against same-sex couples and their families. The party also committed to increased funding for a range of measures to tackle rising HIV infection rates, including support for health-oriented school education programs.
The parties’ full responses to the questionnaire are available on the Alliance website: www.glbthealth.org.au
