Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:14): (121) My constituency question is for the Minister for Equality. My constituent is a resident of the City of Kingston who was upset and disappointed that a children’s Easter event was shut down after a group of anti-LGBTIQ+ fringe activists threatened to stalk drag performers. In this instance the business owner and her staff were also threatened. This type of conduct appears particularly prevalent in south-eastern metropolitan Melbourne, where protest activity is organised online and has led my constituent to feel concerned for the safety of their friends in the LGBTIQ+ community. My constituent asks: how is the minister addressing the concentration of this fringe hate speech in the south-east?