Tas election result inspires hope for "rapid progress" / Community action "stopped hate"

This LGBT media release was issued by the TGLRG on 22.3.10.

Tasmanian gay activists say the Tasmanian election result holds out hope for rapid progress on LGBTI-related law reform, education and health issues.

Saturday's Tasmanian election gave no one party a majority of seats, leaving the Greens with the balance of power.

"The fact that all three parties made stronger LGBTI election commitments than ever before, the fact that many of these commitments overlap, plus the fact the Greens, who have a very detailed LGBTI policy, now have the balance of power, creates the potential for rapid and dramatic change across a wide range of areas", Mr Croome said.

"These areas include reform of the Anti-Discrimination, Relationships and Adoption Act, and better funding for school anti-homophobia programs and LGBTI support services."

Mr Croome said that reform will be likely regardless of whether Tasmanian has a Labor or Liberal Government.

"Past Tasmanian minority governments have delivered significant change, including the first real attempt to decriminalise homosexuality under a minority Labor government in 1990 and the actual achievement of that reform under a minority Liberal Government in 1997."

Mr Croome said the absence of anti-LGBTI hate materials from the election campaign proves that community action works.

"The high-profile anti-discrimination cases taken by Martine Delaney and others against anti-LGBTI election materials published in previous elections ensured that no such materials were published this time around."

"LGBTI Tasmanians and their families owe a great debt of gratitude to Martine and her fellow litigants."

After the last state election in 2006, Martine Delaney launched an anti-discrimination case against the Liberal Party and members of the Exclusive Brethren over pamphlets and newspaper ads allegedly inciting hatred against LGBTI people. Similar cases were launched by Ms Delaney, Peter Power and Michael Dempsey in the wake of similar materials published by the Liberal Party and Timber Communities Australia during the 2007 federal election.

Following apologies from the Brethren and the TCA, mediated last year by the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, the Liberal Party undertook not to publish anti-LGBTI election materials.

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.