Wednesday, 19 November 2025

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:28): I rise to mark Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance, when we acknowledge and celebrate the trans and gender-diverse Victorians who make up our families, workplaces and communities and when those of us who value inclusion reinforce that trans and gender-diverse Victorians are loved, valued and welcomed. We also remember the trans and gender-diverse people whose lives have unnecessarily been cut short by hurt, stigma, discrimination and violence.

Around the world trans communities are facing increasing hate. In this place we have a leadership role in rejecting hate and standing up for inclusion, because the choices we make send a signal about whose side we are on. On this side of the house we are clear. We stand with trans and gender-diverse Victorians and recognise they deserve to feel safe and respected in our great state. We have strengthened anti-vilification laws. We have invested in the services that trans Victorians count on and made it easier to get identity documents that reflect who they truly are. The Allan Labor government believes in building communities, not fragmenting them. That is true leadership: leading for all, speaking out against harmful words and behaviours and strengthening inclusion rather than stoking disunity.

The best leaders do not elevate those who fuel hateful narratives and do not reward those who oppose equality reforms or who work hard to undermine the rights of LGBTIQA+ Victorians. When you reward those who fuel this harm against trans and gender-diverse Victorians and their families, you are showing them you do not respect or value these Victorians. When it comes to hate or harm, you need to draw a line in the sand and you do need to be clear about whose side you are on. Under an Allan Labor government, equality is not negotiable.

When you reward those who fuel this harm against trans and gender-diverse Victorians and their families, you are showing them you do not respect or value these Victorians. When it comes to hate or harm you need to draw a line in the sand and you do need to be clear about whose side you are on. Under an Allan Labor government equality is not negotiable.