Questions without notice and ministers statements
LGBTIQ+ events
Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:01): (209) My question is to the Minister for Police. As you know, many rainbow family events such as drag story time have been cancelled due to security concerns at the recommendation of Victoria Police. Meanwhile, as we heard yesterday, on Saturday Nazis held a white powerlifting event, openly recruiting at a gym in Sunshine, protected by a cordon of police. So I would like to ask the minister: what can the government do to ensure that events that we want to see go ahead, like drag story time, can go ahead and that our policing system is not causing them to be cancelled?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:01): I thank Mr Puglielli for his interest and his question in relation to this matter. I know he is very passionate about these issues and he has raised them in this forum and many other forums. In relation to that question, in line with the practices of this place I will take that question on notice and seek a response from the relevant minister in the other place.
Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:02): I thank the minister. I should also note, based on past responses I have had from the minister that this has been directed to, I appreciate that the minister does not have operational oversight or give directives towards police and their decisions, but I ask: can you meet with the police commissioner to discuss how to prevent queer events from being cancelled?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:02): I thank Mr Puglielli for his supplementary question. In line with the practices of this place I will also forward that to the Minister for Police in the other place and get a written response.