Labor improves platform

Victorian Labor strengthened its position to better support the GLBTI community at the ALP State Conference over the weekend.

A motion was passed to improve support for GLBTI Victorians and establish “appropriate mechanisms” to better coordinate and promote GLBTI support services across government.

“Labor recognises that programs to deliver essential support services for GLBTI people are currently fragmented and spread across government and are often short-term or ‘pilot’ in nature,” the  new platform states.

Areas of GLBTI health and homophobic harassment have been singled out as areas to target.

Victorian Labor says it will:

“Establish appropriate mechanisms to coordinate and promote both policy development, and the initiatives across government needed … with adequate ongoing funding.

“Strengthen partnerships between Victorian Government, local government and community organisations in the delivery of support services for GLBTI Victorians and their families.”

Victorian Labor GLBTI Policy Committee president Steve Perryman said the changes were “excellent news”.

“Our charter is to raise the importance of our communities’ issues within the ALP and work across policy areas with other committees within the party to achieve good policy outcomes,” he said.

The policy committee was established last year.