Thursday, 4 August 2022

Ministers statements: LGBTIQ+ equality

Ms SHING (Eastern Victoria—Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:08): Pride is almost everywhere; it has not quite made it to the opposition benches. But what I want to do with the time I have available today is talk to the enormous work that is going on across Victoria to make sure that our record of equality and commitment to equality not being negotiable is right there in every community, in schools, in workplaces and importantly across our statute book.

I want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Martin Foley, the best advocate for LGBTIQ+ people Victoria could ever have asked for, Australia’s very first equality minister and somebody who has set the scene for a range of legislative reforms that have succeeded to make our state and our statute book fairer. That is despite the efforts of those opposite and those in the other place to vote them down time and time again. We now have an LGBTIQ+ strategy. We have Australia’s first pride centre. We have developed and indeed committed $6.8 million towards events to celebrate pride and diversity around Victoria, including the recent announcement with the extraordinary candidate for Richmond, Lauren O’Dwyer, for a street party on 12 February next year. Those opposite should come along and see what it is all about. There will be a lot of glitter and perhaps enough even to thaw their cold and conservative hearts. It has been extraordinary also to see the partnership with Midsumma continuing.

Also I want to acknowledge Melbourne Grammar. This morning I went to their inaugural pride conference, bringing 16 schools together—students and staff from 16 schools—to talk about pride, diversity and what it means to tackle homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and intersex discrimination across our communities. We have also seen Mildura Senior College lead the way. The work of its captain, staff and students has been extraordinary and set the standard across regional Victoria. Our legal service also really puts the limp efforts of those opposite to shame. Long may our work in equality continue.