The waiting game begins

The waiting game begins

Queensland has entered a new era of politics and a period of great uncertainty for the LGBTI community after the Liberal National Party (LNP) crushed the ALP at Saturday’s state election.


It looks likely the LNP will hold a huge majority of 78 seats in Queensland’s single House, to the ALP’s seven.


Katter’s Australian Party only managed two seats.


Independent MP Rob Messenger, who’d promised to introduce a bill repealing civil unions, lost his seat to the LNP, his former party. 


Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson – the LNP’s pro-reparative therapy shadow community services minister – easily retained her seat.


It’s unclear whether Simpson – who famously told state Parliament in 2002 that homosexuals could “grow into heterosexuality over time” – would keep the community services portfolio in Premier Campbell Newman’s new front bench, but she is expected to be a senior minister.


The wipeout also saw Labor LGBTI allies Grace Grace and Andrew Fraser – who introduced the state’s civil unions bill – taken out by their LNP opponents.


Leader Anna Bligh, the first state premier to speak out in favour of same-sex marriage, quit politics the day after the massive election defeat.


Queensland Association for Healthy Communities executive director Paul R Martin told the Star Observer the organisation will work to ensure an open and constructive partnership between the new Government and the LGBT community.


“Such a decisive win for the LNP will hopefully encourage them to govern with strength in the interests of all Queenslanders and not pander to an extreme minority in the community who promote bigotry and inequality,” Martin said.

“While civil partnerships and other law reform issues remain important for the LGBT community, we also need action to address the high rates of mental ill-health and suicide, increasing HIV and STI infections, risky alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and ongoing violence and discrimination.”


Brisbane-based PFLAG national spokeswoman Shelley Argent said she’d take a wait-and-see approach to Queensland’s new guard.


“A lot people in the community, older gay men in particular, were very concerned before the election about what would possibly be the outcome if the LNP got in,” Argent said.


“When Campbell Newman talks about treating Queenslanders with dignity and respect, I hope he’s including the gay community in that.”


As for Newman’s mixed messages on repealing the Civil Partnerships Act, Argent said the community would need patience before preparing a response.


“If they start talking about repealing things, then we’ll take action. But nothing like that should be discussed in detail until we see what they’re going to do.”



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4 responses to “The waiting game begins”

  1. With the LNP in power now, Queensland will slowly go back to being the red neck state again.

    It is going to take at least a decade for labor to reform and recover.

    So queer issues are going to be put on the back burner or not addressed at all.

    You all have been warned

  2. “When Campbell Newman talks about treating Queenslanders with dignity and respect, I hope he’s including the gay community in that.”

    Ha! Since when have the LNP treated law abiding, tax paying gay citizens with respect? No more trips to QLD for me! They are a vile party!

  3. The “wait and see” approach smacks of fear to me. Why not approach them *now* with a list of concerns; saying these are things your party or various of its MPs were campaigning on pre-election – do you intend to proceed with these in power? That public protest was a huge show of power by the GLBTI community against the fundies, the govt needs to have their feet kept to the fire.