Page 3915 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 1 December 2021
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Through consultations on the second action plan, the government has undertaken dialogue to better understand local sentiment on inclusive representation. This has included conversations on moving away from representation and visibility via an acronym or the “plus” symbol to more meaningful and impactful support for minority groups. I will release the second action plan early next year and look forward to working with everyone in this place and the broader community to make further strides towards a more inclusive Canberra to support individuals and communities who need that support the most.
I take this opportunity to thank everyone across ACT government, the community sector, the private sector and all of the well-meaning and fantastic Canberrans who have committed their time and demonstrated in their actions a commitment to inclusion and protection of human rights for all Canberrans. I present the following paper:
Capital of Equality LGBTIQ+ Strategy—Statement on progress—Ministerial statement, 1 December 2021.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
MR DAVIS (Brindabella) (10.24): I thank the Chief Minister for the ministerial statement on the capital of equality LGBTQI strategy. On behalf of the ACT Greens, I once again affirm our commitment to the capital of equality strategy and its ongoing success. In particular, I want to highlight some of the awesome legislative reforms that occurred in this place prior to my election. The Chief Minister touched on a few of them, in particular our reforms in the Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020 and our work on the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act.
I thank the Chief Minister for his deliberative and consultative approach with me and my team, knowing our ongoing policy interest in this area. I think we will get the very best outcomes for sexuality and gender diverse Canberrans when those of like mind and value come together across this Assembly. I look forward to continuing to work with the Chief Minister and all in government on a better life for LGBTIQ+ Canberrans.
At the risk of simply repeating the Chief Minister’s presentation, there are a few figures, as part of the survey that was undertaken in collaboration with La Trobe University, that I would like to reflect on because I think they are very important. These figures are harrowing: 40 per cent of young people surveyed had been verbally harassed in the last year and 57.2 per cent felt unsafe at school due to their sexuality.
I understand and empathise with many in our community who may not have a relationship with the sexuality and gender diverse community. They are not sexuality or gender diverse themselves; they have not known or loved somebody. But these are harrowing figures for everybody in our community. It is very distressing that there are people in Canberra who are feeling this way and living like this in our city.
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