Tuesday, 17 June 2025

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:28): It is Pride Month, and our government continues to stand with Victorian LGBTIQA+ communities. Whether it is this celebration or whether it is passing meaningful law reform, we will continue working to ensure all Victorians can live safely, wholly and freely. In April we passed anti-vilification legislation to protect gender identity, sexuality, sex characteristics and disability from the harms of hate speech. Last month our machete ban responded directly to unacceptable violence that has harmed Victorians, including members of the LGBTIQA+ community. And today the Attorney-General introduced reforms that apply tougher penalties for anyone posting and boasting about serious crime. We are showing that we will never tolerate this behaviour in Victoria. We know LGBTIQA+ Victorians, particularly gay and bisexual men, have been targeted by offenders who post and boast about their unacceptable and hateful crimes.

While every month should be a celebration of our diverse rainbow communities, it is important to recognise Pride Month, and I strongly encourage every member of this place to be united, not divisive, and to do all they can to show our LGBTIQA+ communities they are seen, supported and loved. Of course this includes standing up to hate, violence and discrimination, whether it is during Pride Month, on Trans Day of Visibility or right here in Parliament. We will always push back on hate, strengthen community safety and keep in view those who refuse to stand up for our rainbow communities. Whether it is connecting with people online, at school, at work, at your sports club or in public, every Victorian deserves to live safely and with pride.