Politicians to front up to Victorian LGBTI community as election looms

Politicians to front up to Victorian LGBTI community as election looms
Image: David Micallef (Photo: Ari Neubauer; Star Observer)

POLITICIANS from both major parties and the Greens will front up to members of Victoria’s LGBTI community at a town hall-style debate in the lead up to November’s state election.

The event, organised by LGBTI professional networking organisation GLOBE, will see Labor’s spokesperson on LGBTI issues Martin Foley debate government backbencher and Prahran state Liberal MP Clem Newton-Brown, and Greens upper house MP Greg Barber.

Each politician will make a pitch to the audience, followed by a general debate on audience questions MC’d by JOY 94.9 presenter Dean Beck.

“GLOBE wants to encourage stronger engagement between our community and politicians in the lead-up to the State election,” GLOBE president David Micallef (pictured above) told the Star Observer.

“This event is an opportunity to ensure our community has its voice heard.”

Whether or not they plan to attend, Micallef encouraged all members of the LGBTI community to engage directly with politicians on issues they care about as the election gets closer.

“Whether it is through our events or by contacting their local member, it is important that individuals, groups and businesses engage politically to have issues that matter to them represented,” he said.

While questions at the event will only be open to those attending on the night, Micallef told the Star Observer there were plans to make a recording of the event available to the wider LGBTI community.

With just around 100 days remaining before the November 29 election, a Herald Sun/Galaxy poll published on Monday has put Labor in the lead to win the state election at 52–48 per cent.

The GLOBE event Meet the Politicians will take place at 6pm on September 11 at Crown Metropol — tickets are $40 for GLOBE members and $50 for non-members.

For more information or to book tickets visit the event website.

(Main image: GLOBE president David Micallef. Photo: Ari Neubauer; Star Observer)

 

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2 responses to “Politicians to front up to Victorian LGBTI community as election looms”

  1. It is unfortunate the LNP decided to take away workplace protections, for thousands GLBTI people who work in government funded religious businesses, excluding our Civil Rights, changing the Equal Opportunity Act. Each day, thousands of heroes who work in everything from soup kitchens, to helping homeless people, have less rights, as every LNP member voted to remove protections for non heterosexual people. A hate crime was committed, an injustice, as every LNP member singled us out. Public funding should never be used to support bigotry and hate. The clock was turned backwards as one of the first acts by the LNP after the election.

    The Chief law maker Robert Clark, is supporting a conference where religious bigots seek the Putin laws here, that would see us locked up. This is the same person in charge of the Equal Opportunity Act. I simply do not understand how the Premiere can attend a GLBTI event, then sinlge GLBTI people out for unequal treatment.

  2. In Victoria adoption by a same sex couple is still banned. Only Labor can abolish this bigoted outdated law. The Liberal Party are homophobic and bigoted and do not care one hoot about us!

    The Liberal Party has “promised” – but NOT delivered on three things:

    * HIV law reform in the Crimes Act 1958;
    * Expunging of gay sex convictions on criminal records dating back prior 1980; and
    * Relationship recognition scheme – VIC already has a relationship register since 2008 (that will also recognise interstate NSW, QLD, ACT and TAS relationship registers)!