LGBTIQ+ community safety
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:20): (252) My question is for the Minister for Equality Minister Shing, so I will ask my question to the Attorney-General today. I understand that the minister recently met with a large group of community representatives for a round table on anti-vilification and discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community. Just this morning we saw the release of the Trans Justice Project and the Victorian Pride Lobby’s new report tracking the horrific escalation of anti-trans hate nationally. The need for urgent action is clear, but concerns have been shared with us about a lack of clear commitment to action, so my question is: what measurable outcomes did the minister achieve throughout this community round table?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:21): I thank Ms Payne for her question and her ongoing interest in this really important issue, which crosses over a number of portfolios – as well as Ms Shing’s, mine and Minister Brooks’s – in the development of a new anti-vilification approach to tackling hate and intolerance and promoting respect in Victoria. That round table – she has a lot – I think my staff went along to as well just to make sure that we are all aware of the issues that people are raising to ensure that when the consultations are completed and we get to the point where we are drafting legislation it is picking up all of the people’s views and doing hopefully what it is intended to do.
I am sure that Ms Shing can give you a bit more of an update in relation to that meeting, but lots of meetings will continue to happen, both with our representatives and leaders in the LGBTIQ+ community and with a lot of action in relation to those leaders in the multifaith and multicultural areas, to make sure that anti-vilification reforms are doing what we want them to do – that is, protect all vulnerable community members in Victoria, which is what I think Victorians expect. That work is underway; engagement has started. Consultations are really important. I think you will appreciate, and I have been on the record before saying, that a legal response is just one element of this. Continued conversations, community engagement and demonstrating that there are a lot of us that really care about this and want to get it right I think have an added benefit to just a law that, frankly, we do not really want to have to apply.
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:23): I thank the Attorney for her response and for passing my question on to Minister Shing for some detail in terms of the round table. By way of supplementary, I ask the minister: will you respond formally to the Victorian Pride Lobby’s report?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:23): I will pass that question on to Minister Shing for her response.