Iemma -˜disappointing’, says Lobby

The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby has called for the community to demand more from the major parties, after a disappointing response to a state election survey conducted with ACON.

The survey called for commitments from the major and minor parties and key independents on issues relating to gay and lesbian equality, health, hate-related violence and homophobia in schools.

Labor’s response pinned the party’s commitment to equality on previous Labor governments’ reforms in 40 pieces of legislation.

The Lobby’s Ghassan Kassisieh said it was disappointing that Iemma’s government would not commit to further reforms in areas of parenting and relationship recognition.

We would have liked a stronger commitment to the reform of the Status of Children Act, he said.

It’s a real uphill battle for parenting reforms. We have been working with the attorney-general and were expecting some timeline or commitment that would be part of the next term.

Kassisieh said the Lobby was surprised that civil unions were ruled out given the high level of support among Labor’s left wing.

But we weren’t surprised about their refusal on adoption. They wouldn’t support changes to the Adoption Act until their review of the Act comes out in July, but I think their position is unlikely to change, he said.

Practically speaking, adoption is a lesser issue because there are less children coming through. Protection for children born from donor insemination is a more important issue because there are many more cases.

A spokesperson for Peter Debnam said the Liberal party would not support amendments to existing legislation for parenting.

Labor has not traditionally given its parliamentary members a conscience vote on these issues, and would be unlikely to pass reforms introduced by the Greens unless it became party policy, Kassisieh said.

He said a hung parliament was the only way to achieve significant reforms without a commitment from either major party.

If the Greens do take the balance of power in the upper house, they could well act as a very good leverage for getting reforms through, he said.

Or if key independents needed for government votes include people like David Barr, Robert Oakeshott and Clover Moore, that’s when I predict we’ll have big changes.

We were really impressed by proactive steps by the minor parties and the independents, particularly Clover and the Greens -“ both made statements they’d push for civil unions.

The survey also called on commitments on future HIV/AIDS funding for health organisations like ACON.

Jillian Skinner promised a Liberal government would absolutely maintain all current HIV/AIDS spending.

A spokesperson for the health minister would not comment on specific levels of future funding, but said the government was keen to continue the current successful response to HIV in NSW over the last two decades.