Lobby rates the parties

&?)??d the Democrats still lead the way in terms of adopting a lesbian and gay law reform agenda, according to a new Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby survey.

The survey results, to be distributed around the community in the weeks leading up to the state election, show that both minor parties eclipse Labor and the Coalition in their commitments to law reform.

The parties were quizzed on four policy areas: the age of consent, rights for lesbian and gay parents, relationship recognition and protection from discrimination for gay men and lesbians.

The Democrats and the Greens were awarded the maximum score -“ three thumbs up symbols -“ in each of the four categories on the survey results sheet.

The survey shows Labor making some commitments in the areas of discrimination protection and relationship recognition, as well as the age of consent, but no commitments in the area of parenting rights.

The Coalition gave a positive response to the age of consent question, but gave no commitments in the three other categories.

The Lobby scorecard is intended as a quick, easy-to-read guide to the positions of the four major political parties.

We acknowledge that people vote on a whole range of issues, so this scorecard is not telling people to vote in a particular way; rather, it gives voters the chance to inform themselves on the major parties’ policies in relation to gay and lesbian issues, co-convenor Rob McGrory said.

Fellow co-convenor Somali Ghosh said the Lobby would continue to pressure the parties which haven’t made meaningful commitments in the four law reform areas in the lead-up to the 22 March election.