New Greens Prahran MP to advocate for LGBTI issues in parliament

New Greens Prahran MP to advocate for LGBTI issues in parliament

AFTER winning an unexpected victory in the seat of Prahran almost two weeks after the state election, Greens MP Sam Hibbins has vowed to continue forwarding the interests of LGBTI Victorians.

The Victorian Electoral Commission called the seat for the Green on Tuesday night after the distribution of preferences knocked sitting Liberal MP Clem Newton-Brown out of the race, with Labor candidate Neil Pharaoh conceding defeat on Thursday morning.

Hibbins told the Star Observer while Newton-Brown and Pharaoh had worked hard to advocate for LGBTI issues within their own parties, he wouldn’t have to do the same thing within the Greens.

“I don’t have to do the battle within my party, I can take the battle straight to parliament,” he said.

“That’s what I’m planning to do — be that strong voice for LGBTI communities in parliament.”

Hibbins argued his presence in the lower house would allow him to ensure some of Labor’s promised reforms would be passed and implemented in the best possible way.

He specifically mentioned Labor’s commitment to re-introduce employment protections for LGBTI people in the Equal Opportunity Act repealed by the Liberals, and to reform the Adoption Act to allow same-sex couples to adopt.

Hibbins thanked the LGBTI community for their support of his campaign, and attributed his win to extensive community engagement.

“It’s been a fantastic experience, and particularly the support we’ve got from the LGBTI community, but also the engagement that we’ve done — we’ve gone out there and listened,” he told the Star Observer.

Hibbins has been a local councillor for the City of Stonnington, and has previously run in a number of state and federal elections for the Greens in Melbourne.

Although Pharaoh concluded his tenure as national convenor of the ALP’s internal LGBTI group Rainbow Labor — a position now held by former Labor senator Louise Pratt — he still plans to be involved in implementing the LGBTI-related reforms Labor committed to during the Victorian election campaign.

Pharaoh also told the Star Observer he is planning a number of initiatives outside of the party to support LGBTI communities.

“I’m very keen to look at starting up in Australia… some sort of activity that supports LGBTI politicians to enter the field, whether it’s looking at money or mentoring or support and things like that, from any political persuasion,” he said.

Pharaoh is also looking at setting up a local LGBTI “giving circle”, which would involve LGBTI people donating money to support causes across the community.

Newton-Brown told the Star Observer he’s not sure yet what his involvement with the LGBTI community will be going forward, but said he was proud of his work for LGBTI Victorians.

“Probably my proudest achievement in my term as Member for Prahran was when on the last sitting day we got through the legislation to expunge historic gay sex convictions,” he said.

“I wish Sam well in his new role and pay tribute to Neil and the tough campaign we were in, battling for the seat of Prahran.”

During his time in government Newton-Brown spearheaded the legislation to allow men with historical gay sex convictions to have those convictions expunged.

The expungement bill was passed in the final sitting week of parliament, and was prioritised within the government’s over-full legislative agenda.

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10 responses to “New Greens Prahran MP to advocate for LGBTI issues in parliament”

  1. The Victorian Adoption Act 1984 is discriminatory against same sex couples by banning same sex couples from the adoption of children.

    This needs to change now and allow gay couples the right to adopt children! WA, ACT, NSW and TAS all allow gay couples to adopt children equally!

    Why does VIC still have this ridiculous 30 year old adoption law on the books?????????

  2. I think Sam will do a great Job as he wont be constrained by the homophobes in the Liberal & Labor party. Martin Foleys brief has limitations which could be viewed as discriminatory. Preferential voting is the system we have. Labor quite often wins seats on Greens preferences but I don’t hear anyone squawking then.

  3. What has been very disappointing with the Greens as well as Labor & Liberals is that none of them have focused on or done anything constructive to help farmers who are being devastated by drought in western Qld. Many have been forced off their properties by ruthless banks. They have now stopped (albeit for 12 months) only because Alan Jones was made aware of it and shamed them into stopping. From Central Qld it feels as though city people care more for the welfare of animals or refugees than people who have contributed to building our nations wealth. I’m not saying they are not important but our people are too.

    Please read Dr David Pascoe’s article on this topic. It would be also worthwhile checking the suicide statistics for this region. Many farmers & their families see this as the only way out.

    It is really tragic.

    I am not normally prone to ranting but if we can make people aware of what’s happening perhaps we can fix the problem.

    • Neville, as much as I understand the plight of farmer’s in central QLD and empathise with the way they have been treated by banks during this drought, this article has nothing to do with that. This is a Victorian state based article about the LGBTI community.

  4. I agree with Anton. Whilst I am greatful that another Green obtained a seat I am fundamentally against preferential voting. It feels so un-democratic.

    • If you get rid of preferences, you basically get a two party system where candidates can win on less than half the vote

      My preference would be to go to proportional representation as they have in New Zealand or much of Europe. It means that a party would get proportion of seats equivalent to the percentage of their vote. The Greens got around 11% so they should have 13% of lower house seats. They’re actually under-represented under the current system. The Nats on something like 4% of the vote, have 8 seats and are over-represented in the Victorian Parliament.