Tanner’s departure ‘a loss’

Tanner’s departure ‘a loss’

The gay community says it has lost a sympathetic ear with the departure of federal finance minister and Melbourne MP Lindsay Tanner.

Amid a historic week in politics when Australia got its first female PM, Tanner quietly announced he would not recontest his seat at the upcoming election, citing family reasons.

Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich told Sydney Star Observer that although Tanner had not budged publicly on the issue of same-sex marriage, the community had lost a supporter.

“I think Lindsay Tanner is widely recognised by the gay and lesbian community … he did do a lot of work for us in certain areas and he was a sympathetic ear,” Greenwhich said.

“On the issue of marriage, it’s been very clear he’s decided to toe his party line.

“Obviously being a member of the Labor Party and indeed one of the senior members of the Labor Party … he was someone who wasn’t going to change his position.”

Speaking at the Melbourne Wear It With Pride launch last month, Tanner said he had been encouraged by positive changes made over the last few decades for the gay and lesbian community.

“There is more to be done, and from time to time we are criticised for not doing more and that’s fair enough,” he said on June 4.

“I always seek to remind people that the parliamentary debate which finally ended the criminalisation of homosexual acts in Australia, I spoke in that debate, it wasn’t very long ago, it was 1994.

“I think we can all collectively take great heart from the fact that although there’s still more to be done … we have made a lot of progress over that time.”

Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby convenor Dr Anthony Bendall said Tanner’s departure would be a loss for the community.

“He was a strong advocate of our rights and was one of our strongest allies in [Labor] caucus,” he said.

Tanner’s departure leaves the seat of Melbourne open, with Greens candidate Adam Bandt considered a strong candidate to give the party its first federal lower house seat.

A new Labor candidate is yet to be announced.

Tanner was facing a tough election campaign with AME vowing to make sure same-sex marriage was on the agenda by leafleting the electorate.

Greenwich said leafleting had been put on hold as Prime Minister Julia Gillard settles into her new role.

“It’s a wait and see situation,” Greenwich said. “We have written to the prime minister requesting a meeting for a way forward for us.”

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5 responses to “Tanner’s departure ‘a loss’”

  1. Peter, it’s highly likely that the Greens will hold the balance of power in the Senate after the next elections so they may be able to effect change.

    “can no longer abide those in authority who nod kindly to us and then go on their merry, safe, heterosexual way and change nothing.”

    This also applies to NSW ALP members in inner-city seats. They pander to the LGBT community and in the end do very little or nothing.

    I know politics is politics but I’ll never understand how politicians, particularly of the Left, can go against their principles with their votes.

  2. I had dealings with Mr Tanner on a personal level and found him to be very helpful. A lot of people do not know, he was under a constant attack from the Religious Right both outside and inside the Labor Party. He received a lot of Hate Mail for the support he gave our community.

    These nutters have dominated the Party for some years with a growing voice. If Rudd had of been hammered at the election, the Religious Right would lose credibility and people like Tanner could of had a greater voice. The Right took the very unusual step of getting rid of Rudd to sure up their own support and voice within the Party. Rudd and Gillard are both voicing the Human Rights demands of the Right Faction. We have been so far turned into Financial Centers by the Labor Party, and couples on Centerlink have got reduced payments. As a financial Center Labor recognizes our sexuality, but on important areas such as Nursing Homes, it does not. Tony Abbot is looking at doing more for us then the Labor Party should he win government.

    It is a great shame both Labor and Liberal are now dominated by the Religious Right. Both Party’s once produced Greats like Fraser and Whitlam, who championed Human Rights challenging the conventional wisdom of the day. These are the leaders that stood up to the Religious Right. Gillard has said she will not even remove the discrimination in the Federal Equal Opportunity Act.

    I for one feel lost at what to do about the intense influence of these Right Factions. Until then I will vote Green and point out to my friends and work colleagues how nasty both party’s have become. How when you are old they expect you to go back into the closet. It is not as though Julia is expected not to be a girl. Why does she expect us not to be Gay at certain stages of our life?

    Until then I think Liberal and Labor are not deserving of our vote. After all surely they can tell us exactly what areas of discrimination they will remove before an election, or are we expected to have blind faith in the Religious Right?

  3. Both the ALP and LIB/NATS do not support Gay Marriage….so why would any member of the GLBT Community vote for them??

    P.S. We all know the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby is nothing more than an ALP mouthpiece….Shame !

    P.P.S. As for Julia Gillard, with that voice I think she needs to visit June Dally-Watkins.

    Editor’s Note: Patti/Drew – your use of false identities to post multiple comments here is a breach of terms of use.

  4. Yes, I certainly agree with your comments Roy, but conversely I also found Tanner to be a straight talker; I will miss that part of him. However, we have endured persecution for too long. I can no longer abide those in authority who nod kindly to us and then go on their merry, safe, heterosexual way and change nothing. The Labour Party has lost my vote because of it, I cannot vote for the Greens because, as much as they huff and puff, they will not have the power to affect change and of course who in their right mind, no matter what their sexual orientation, would vote for Abbott, certainly not me!

  5. Someone from a homophobic party has resigned, thereby increasing the chances for someone from a party that supports equality. This is not what I would describe as “a loss.”