Victoria’s Attorney-General Jacqueline Symes has promised the local LGBTIQA+ communities that the Andrews government ‘has their back’, vowing to fight any challenge to the state’s recently added protection for LGBTIQA+ students and teachers. “I hope that with this long-overdue change all LGBTIQ+ Victorians can live authentically free of fear and in no doubt that laws […]
Have you ever considered a career in politics? The ‘It Takes More’ campaign aims to get more LGBTIQ+ people in the Victorian Parliament. More LGBTIQ+ candidates will be supported to run and win seats in next year’s Victorian state election under a new campaign launched this week by the Victorian Pride Lobby. The non-partisan campaign […]
Victoria Minister for Equality Martin Foley has announced the appointment of Todd Fernando as the new Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities – the second person to fill this groundbreaking role. Fernando replaces Ro Allen, who has taken up the position as Victoria’s Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner. During her time in the role Allen often […]
The Victorian Liberal opposition had allegedly quietly made a commitment to the Australian Christian Lobby and other religious groups that they would wind back the state’s laws banning conversion and suppression practices on sexuality and gender identity if they won the next state election. The Age newspaper claimed a secret deal was made by former party […]
Australian LGBTQIA+ advocates have welcomed the news this week that the Andrews Government are moving to close gaps in discrimination laws for LGBTQIA+ Victorians. Currently, religious organisations and schools can sack or refuse to hire LGBTQ+ people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, where this is deemed incompatible with the religious beliefs practiced […]
Victorian Aboriginal, multicultural and multifaith groups, human rights, women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights organisations have come together to welcome today’s commitment by the Victorian Government’s to strengthen the state’s anti-hate protections. The Australian-first legislation would expand the state’s anti-vilification protections to cover sexuality, HIV status, gender, sex, and disability, as well as race and religion as […]
LGBTIQA+ rights organisation just.equal says Western Australia’s Mental Health Minister Stephen Dawson has provided a response to their concerns about conversion and suppression practices, but advocates say his answer is “vague”. The Minister has responded to a letter from just.equal sent in May, which asked for greater detail about what the McGowan government was doing […]
Mental health advocates say the Victorian Government’s announcement to set up a Suicide Prevention and Response Office is welcome news and is a positive sign in the wake of the impending national agreement with states and territories scheduled for November this year. Yesterday, the Victorian Government revealed their 21/22 budget outline, revealing a record $3.8 […]
The Andrews government in Victoria has successfully passed its bill banning conversion therapy after a late night parliamentary debate. The Change and Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill, which makes it illegal to try to suppress or change another person’s sexuality or gender identity, passed the Legislative Council 27 votes to nine late on Thursday night. The […]
Victoria’s legislation to ban conversion therapy practices is one major step closer to becoming law after it passed the state’s lower house on Thursday. The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill passed on the final sitting day of the Victorian parliament with all 55 MPs in the the chamber voting for it. The Liberal opposition […]
