Page 1185 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 29 March 2017
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Change takes leadership; it takes individuals but it also takes the whole community, and that is why we have led the way on LGBTIQ inclusion, recently legislating to automatically allow the recognition of same-sex relationships as a civil union under territory laws where that relationship is formally recognised overseas.
The ACT government continues to support the recognition of same-sex relationships where possible, and we will continue to advocate for the federal parliament to act on marriage equality. We do this because no-one should be made to feel different or lesser because of who they love, and we are committed to ensuring that all Canberrans have the ability to express their love and commitment in the eyes of the law.
Earlier this year we established the office for LGBTIQ affairs. During this year’s first sitting week, as Mr Steel indicated, rainbow flags were flown throughout Canberra to reaffirm our support for the LGBTIQ community and for marriage equality. These flags were flown as our city’s largest multicultural gathering, the National Multicultural Festival, brought more than 280,000 people to our city centre. This festival is such a fantastic show of diversity and inclusion within our community and continues to be strongly supported by the ACT government.
I have mentioned today but a few of the areas where our government has led the way on inclusion in our community. I believe all governments should show this leadership on inclusion. They should not go out of their way to attack people, so it is incredibly unfortunate that the federal government chose Harmony Day to release details of its plan to wind back protections against racial vilification. These are simply bad amendments, and they will, if passed, give licence to a divisive, racist ugliness that we do not want in our country.
The ACT government will continue to be inclusive. We will continue to stand up for everyone. Australia is the world’s most successful multicultural and inclusive society, and you will find the best of this right here in Canberra. I commend Mr Steel’s motion to the Assembly.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (10.20): I also, of course, thank Mr Steel for putting this motion forward. The Greens recognise and appreciate the importance of inclusion as a core value of the ACT. Of course, we need to continuously improve the way this is achieved to ensure that diversity is embraced and that nobody is left behind.
The bottom line is that we are all human and equally deserving of love and respect. Diversity and inclusion, justice and equity are core values of the Greens, and we stand together with the ACT government to ensure that this community is one where differences, no matter what they are, are welcomed and celebrated. This is because we know that diversity and inclusion can bring great richness. Diversity and inclusion bring different views. Diversity and inclusion bring varied cultures and ways of thinking. These aspects all combine to make this a stronger, more vibrant, more interesting and more resilient place to live. It is a really key aspect of making Canberra the wonderful place it is to live for all of us.
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