Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Department of Treasury and Finance

Budget papers 2025–26

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:43): I rise to speak on this year’s budget papers, specifically budget paper 3 and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s LGBTIQA+ equality policy and programs.

Over the past 12 months, we have seen a marked increase in the number of gay bashings. This is a topic which many would quite understandably think is a relic of history from the 1980s and 90s, but we have seen in Victoria, interstate and indeed across the world a marked increase in the number of gay or otherwise or bisexual men coming forward to report being assaulted. Most commonly this starts online on a dating app, where someone will be lured to a public place. In many cases the conversation will go on to Snapchat, and some victims, not realising that location services can be automatically turned on in Snapchat, then find their homes being raided, attacked, burgled. People have been assaulted viciously, threatened, harassed and intimidated. Though we do not know the precise cause, we can be fairly confident in saying that this has been driven by online activity, by nefarious influencers spreading toxic messages and inciting these attacks. It is a very disturbing trend that we have seen.

In the eight months to May this year, 35 individuals were arrested in the state of Victoria for these crimes. They have typically been males between the ages of 20 and just 13. Victoria leads the nation for the number of arrests, but we know that that does not paint the true picture. The identification of this trend was first discovered by Victoria Police, and it is through their early intervention, including in particular by Jeremy Oliver, the LGBTIQA+ liaison, who I want to give enormous amount of credit to, that these incidents have been able to be responded to in such an effective way. But despite these arrests and despite the attacks that we know about, we can also be, very sadly, confident that there are many, many more that we do not. Many of these attacks have taken place in outer suburban communities – communities very much like the one that I am very proud to represent. We know as well that many of these attacks have targeted men from communities where they are still not able to be comfortable with who they are, where they are still in the closet and where their fear of reporting the crime is so much greater because of it that so many simply do not.

I recently had the privilege of attending a forum in Abbotsford that was held by Thorne Harbour Health to discuss the issue. People were invited from across the community to come and share their experiences and to listen. It was moderated by Caleb Hawk, and we had a great input from Thorne Harbour Health, including Simon Ruth and Janet Jukes. We had Jeremy himself on the panel as well as our terrific LGBTIQA+ commissioner Joe Ball and influencer Odus. I was very pleased to be there representing the Minister for Equality Vicki Ward. I also note the attendance and keen interest in this issue of my colleague in this place Mr Puglielli. For some of the attendees at this forum it was the very first time they had spoken about the violence that had been inflicted upon them. It was a very deeply moving and emotional discussion. But I was reminded throughout that for every person that was there, there were many, many more – many in suburbs such as the ones I represent – who still do not feel safe to be who they are.

Last week the terrific organisation Switchboard announced a very significant program, opening a new hotline to support people and provide the best confidential advice – directions to legal support and mental health and other health supports – and that support for people that need it, whether they want to disclose it or not. It is a very commendable service, and I am very grateful to them for doing it. I also note the keen interest of both Minister Ward and the Premier in this service. Indeed the Premier was at the launch, which sent a very strong message indeed. The Premier has also announced that the Anti-Hate Taskforce will hear from members of the queer community about these attacks. In Victoria equality is not negotiable – not now, not ever.