Page 452 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 15 February 2017

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and suicide in an already vulnerable community. Research from the United States has shown that the mental health of LGBTIQ people suffered significantly during debates on marriage equality ahead of public votes. By comparison, the research found that in states without such referenda there was no such increase. To ignore these facts only puts further at risk an already vulnerable group of LGBTIQ people within our community.

Of course, as Minister for Social Inclusion I should acknowledge that LGBTIQ people are also members of other groups that have historically been under-represented and excluded in public life. LGBTIQ people may also be people with disabilities; they may also be Indigenous; they may also come from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. Many LGBTIQ people who fall into these categories experience multiple levels of discrimination. It is up to all of us in all of our work to ensure that people who have historically been excluded and made vulnerable by our social set-up are included as we go forward into the future. That means we include people with disabilities on LGBTIQ and women’s committees and we include LGBTIQ people in our culturally and linguistically diverse advisory bodies, like the new Multicultural Advisory Council.

I am proud to join those who have gone before me in this place and those who stand beside me in continuing this fight for equality for all territorians, regardless of their sexual preference or gender identity. The simple fact is that life does not discriminate, so why should the law?

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bail system review

MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (11.26): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes that:

(a) there have been several instances of tragic crimes both locally and interstate that were committed by people who were, at the time, on bail for other offences;

(b) both the Prime Minister of Australia and the Federal Leader of the Opposition have made statements in the Commonwealth Parliament that recognise the need and importance of reviews into bail systems across Australia;

(c) other jurisdictions, such as Victoria, have launched reviews of their bail systems to review the current system and to recommend changes; and

(d) that previous calls for comprehensive reviews of the bail system in the ACT have not been fully addressed by the current Government; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

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