Anthony Albanese Mp Leader of the Australian Labor Party Member for Grayndler

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Anthony Albanese Mp Leader of the Australian Labor Party Member for Grayndler ANTHONY ALBANESE MP LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY MEMBER FOR GRAYNDLER E&OE TRANSCRIPT TELEVISION INTERVIEW SKY NEWS AFTERNOON AGENDA WITH KIERAN GILBERT TUESDAY, 31 MARCH 2020 SUBJECTS: Coronavirus; Coronavirus JobKeeper wage subsidy package; Labor working constructively during the coronavirus crisis. KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Anthony Albanese, thanks so much for your time. You have been calling for a worker income guarantee. It has been delivered to the tune of $130 billion. Are you satisfied with the scope of this plan? ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Look, it is a good plan. It is a positive plan. And what we have been saying since the Parliament sat, and indeed beforehand, was that without a wage subsidy, we would see hundreds of thousands of Australians join the Centrelink queue. And that is what we needed to avoid. We need to keep the relationship between workers and employers. I am very hopeful that this scheme will do this. It is a positive scheme. I think it has been well-targeted. We will look at the detail, of course, to make sure that no one has missed out. But we are supportive of this principle. And we are glad that the Government changed its mind and adopted the principle. GILBERT: We’ve seen a massive amount of interest from businesses registering already their ABNs with the tax office for this package. So, that really says it all in terms of how well it has been designed because the demand is very much there, isn’t it? ALBANESE: Well, business was telling us that this is what they wanted and indeed what they needed. This is what unions have been telling us. And I pay tribute to the fact that unions and employers, last week there was a joint release from the Shop Distributive Association, one of Australia’s largest unions, and the retailers, all on the same page. That is a good thing. And it is good that the Government has been prepared to listen to Labor, to unions, to employers, to the community, and take this action. I think it will make a fundamental difference to the strength of our economy as we go out of this downturn. We need to make sure that those relationships are in place. And it is a very positive thing. And I certainly hope that it is taken up as widely as possible. GILBERT: Well, the Government has been flexible in this in working on it. They've said they've done an Australian-suited program as opposed to something like the UK. It's got its own approach. Do you think that they've got that approach right in terms of using existing mechanisms through the tax office and so on? ALBANESE: Look, I think they've got many of the principles right. I think the flat rate ensures basically that it's a progressive system. We know that a lot of the areas of high unemployment that's occurred over the last couple of weeks is in the low-paid industries. And they are precisely people who will benefit. This will pay up to in some cases 90 plus per cent of the income, in some cases just about all of it. That's a good thing. And what it will do, employers have been telling me for the last period that we had got it right. They were telling us to stick with it. I think it's a vindication, also, of Labor's constructive approach here. We are determined to make a real positive difference. We are determined to be constructive. We are determined to be positive and be supportive of the Government wherever possible. But to make suggestions that improve the lives of Australians. Because at the end of the day, whether it's health or the economy, this is about people. And what these changes will do is make sure that more Australian households stay in work. It'll make sure that employers benefit by keeping that relationship with their workforce. And it'll make sure that the entire economy can emerge from this crisis much stronger. GILBERT: Your approach has been welcomed from within the Government. I know this morning, having spoken to a number of people who've said to me that the fact that Labor is on board with it means the tax office can start working on this already before the legislation is approved and passed by Parliament. When would you expect that parliamentary sitting to happen and in what form? ALBANESE: Well, I spoke to the Prime Minister yesterday morning. I kept that confidential until he announced it. It was a private discussion. But it was very constructive. By then, it was clear the direction that the Government was going in. And I welcomed it. And indicated that just as we did when Parliament last sat, we would facilitate passage of legislation. It may well be that we have amendments. Last time around when Parliament sat, we proposed amendments that have allowed for the changes to income support to be much broader for two-income families where someone has lost their job. That is increasing, of course, from $48,000 up to $79,000. That will make an enormous difference to people in our suburbs. We also ensured that 230,000 additional people got support, whether they be Abstudy, Austudy or Youth Allowance recipients. And we proposed increasing the amount to which the Finance Minister had discretion but with the approval of the Shadow Finance Minister as well, up to $40 billion. So, we made a practical difference. We'll look at this legislation but we're sure that it can pass hopefully within one or two days. It's not finalised yet when that parliamentary sitting will be. It'll be in the usual fashion in Canberra. There will be lower numbers. We facilitated changes to the standings orders, which means that there won't need to be 76 members between the Government and the Opposition there on the floor of the House of Representatives. So, there can be a lower number. So, I'd expect there would be somewhere in the order of 40 to 50 Members of the House of Reps. And it will most likely be either towards the middle of next week or perhaps even the week after. But the outcome in terms of the fact that there will be a scheme, it's important that we give that certainty. And that's one of the things that I've been determined to do, and I've asked for, is clarity and certainty are the key. GILBERT: When it comes to a few other things, I want to get your thoughts on the banks. They're deferring loans for six months for businesses, but not deferring the interest. Would you like them to do that as well? To defer the interest so that doesn't accrue for businesses who need that deferral? ALBANESE: Well, look, I would like them to consider that. And at the very least, I think they could consider that on a case by case basis. We know that the cash rate is minimal. It is 0.25 per cent. So, essentially, the cost of purchasing money is just about free. So, I think the banks need to bear that in mind. The banks have played a constructive role. That's got to be said. And I hope that they do everything possible, because it's in the banks' interests for businesses to survive. Because then they remain their customers. If businesses disappear, then that's a customer disappearing for the banks as well. And they need to bear that in mind. GILBERT: Virgin is requesting a $1.4 billion Government loan. If it's not repaid, Government would take equity in the airline. What's your take on this? And do you think that Australia must have two airlines at the end of all of this crisis? ALBANESE: Look, I think that two major airlines is an important principle. It arose out of, essentially, the white paper that was done when I was the Aviation Minister in 2009. We have one of the world's best aviation systems, with essentially two airlines with a full service in Qantas and Virgin and their respective budget arms in the form of Jetstar and Tiger. And then we have good regional airlines like Rex as well. It is very important that we continue to have a competitive and dynamic aviation sector in this country. I think one of the things that the Government could consider, if it does give any support, financial support, it can consider that in the form of equity. And then it could, of course, sell that down at some future date. There will be, across the world, a whole lot more state interventions in terms of aviation. Why does that occur in particular? Because aviation has a great role in terms of foreign policy and in the national interest of nation states that's recognised around the world. Indeed, just about most airlines have some form of government involvement in them. GILBERT: So, just basically, you want the Government to be positive about that? To support Virgin through a difficult time? ALBANESE: Well, look, I'm not in a position given that I haven't seen the specific proposals to say precisely what should happen. But I do think that the Government should consider any proposal from a sympathetic point of view and should consider it in the form of the long-term.
Recommended publications
  • The Essential Report 15 March 2016
    The Essential Report 15 March 2016 ESSENTIALMEDIA.COM.AU ESSENTIALMEDIA.COM.AU The Essential Report Date: 15/3/2016 Prepared By: Essential Research Data Supplied: Essential Media Communications is a member of the Association of Market and Social Research Organisations Our researchers are members of the Australian Essential Research is ISO 20252 (Market, Opinions Market and Social Research Society. and Social Research) accredited. Page 2 / 17 ESSENTIALMEDIA.COM.AU About this poll This report summarises the results of a weekly omnibus conducted by Essential Research with data provided by Your Source. The survey was conducted online from the 9th to 13th February 2016 and is based on 1,006 respondents. Aside from the standard question on voting intention, this week’s report includes questions on same sex marriage, party leaders and climate change. The methodology used to carry out this research is described in the appendix on page 17. Note that due to rounding, not all tables necessarily total 100% and subtotals may also vary. Page 3 / 17 ESSENTIALMEDIA.COM.AU Federal voting intention Q If a Federal Election was held today to which party will you probably give your first preference vote? If not sure, which party are you currently leaning toward? If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to? Last 2 weeks 4 weeks Election Total week ago ago 7 Sep 13 8/3/16 1/3/16 16/2/16 Liberal 39% 39% 40% 40% National 3% 3% 3% 3% Total Liberal/National 42% 43% 43% 43% 45.6% Labor 36% 37% 38% 33% 33.4% Greens 11% 10% 10% 11% 8.6% Palmer United Party 1% 2% 1% 1% 5.5% Other/Independent 9% 8% 8% 11% 6.9% 2 party preferred Liberal National 50% 50% 50% 52% 53.5% Labor 50% 50% 50% 48% 46.5% NB.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparing the Dynamics of Party Leadership Survival in Britain and Australia: Brown, Rudd and Gillard
    This is a repository copy of Comparing the dynamics of party leadership survival in Britain and Australia: Brown, Rudd and Gillard. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/82697/ Version: Accepted Version Article: Heppell, T and Bennister, M (2015) Comparing the dynamics of party leadership survival in Britain and Australia: Brown, Rudd and Gillard. Government and Opposition, FirstV. 1 - 26. ISSN 1477-7053 https://doi.org/10.1017/gov.2014.31 Reuse Unless indicated otherwise, fulltext items are protected by copyright with all rights reserved. The copyright exception in section 29 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 allows the making of a single copy solely for the purpose of non-commercial research or private study within the limits of fair dealing. The publisher or other rights-holder may allow further reproduction and re-use of this version - refer to the White Rose Research Online record for this item. Where records identify the publisher as the copyright holder, users can verify any specific terms of use on the publisher’s website. Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [email protected] including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. [email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Comparing the Dynamics of Party Leadership Survival in Britain and Australia: Brown, Rudd and Gillard Abstract This article examines the interaction between the respective party structures of the Australian Labor Party and the British Labour Party as a means of assessing the strategic options facing aspiring challengers for the party leadership.
    [Show full text]
  • Inaugural Speech
    INAUGURAL SPEECH The PRESIDENT: I remind honourable members that this is the member's first speech and she should be given all due consideration. Before the honourable member starts, I welcome into my gallery members of the Hon. Rose Jackson's family, including her husband, Sam Crosby, their children, Oscar and Charlotte, her father, Mr Martin Butler, her mother-in-law, Mrs Bronwyn Crosby, and her brother, Joe. I also welcome into the public gallery the Hon. Chris Bowen, member for McMahon in the Australian Parliament. I welcome you all in the House this evening for the member's first speech. The Hon. ROSE JACKSON (18:01): The land we are on is called Eora. The first people here were the Gadigal. In 1909 this Parliament passed the Aborigines Protection Act, which gave legal force to the Aborigines Welfare Board and its wide-ranging control over the lives of Aboriginal people. In doing so, it introduced one of the deepest sources of our national shame by codifying the board's power to remove Aboriginal children from their families. I acknowledge the Gadigal today in this place not as a mere hat tip or commonplace convention but in solemn acknowledgement that the laws that gave the New South Wales Government power to steal the children of Aboriginal families, to take the babies from their mummies, were laws that were made in this very room, in this Parliament House, by our predecessors. The lives and resilience of the Gadigal should serve to inspire and humble us. They should stand as a profound warning: What we do here matters.
    [Show full text]
  • Which Political Parties Are Standing up for Animals?
    Which political parties are standing up for animals? Has a formal animal Supports Independent Supports end to welfare policy? Office of Animal Welfare? live export? Australian Labor Party (ALP) YES YES1 NO Coalition (Liberal Party & National Party) NO2 NO NO The Australian Greens YES YES YES Animal Justice Party (AJP) YES YES YES Australian Sex Party YES YES YES Health Australia Party YES YES YES Science Party YES YES YES3 Pirate Party Australia YES YES NO4 Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party YES No policy YES Sustainable Australia YES No policy YES 1Labor recently announced it would establish an Independent Office of Animal Welfare if elected, however its struc- ture is still unclear. Benefits for animals would depend on how the policy was executed and whether the Office is independent of the Department of Agriculture in its operations and decision-making. Australian Democrats YES No policy No policy 2The Coalition has no formal animal welfare policy, but since first publication of this table they have announced a plan to ban the sale of new cosmetics tested on animals. Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) NO No policy NO5 3The Science Party's policy states "We believe the heavily documented accounts of animal suffering justify an end to the current system of live export, and necessitate substantive changes if it is to continue." Australian Independents Party NO No policy No policy 4Pirate Party Australia policy is to “Enact a package of reforms to transform and improve the live exports industry”, including “Provid[ing] assistance for willing live animal exporters to shift to chilled/frozen meat exports.” 6 Family First NO No policy No policy 5Nick Xenophon Team’s policy on live export is ‘It is important that strict controls are placed on live animal exports to ensure animals are treated in accordance with Australian animal welfare standards.
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide to Titles and Forms of Address for Dignitaries
    OFFICIAL A GUIDE TO TITLES AND FORMS OF ADDRESS FOR DIGNITARIES How referred to in Title Address block in correspondence Salutation person Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Your Excellency or Initially ‘Your Excellency’ Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Dear Governor-General thereafter ‘Sir’ Contact: Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Governor His Excellency The Honourable Hieu Van Le AC Your Excellency At first meeting ‘Your Governor of South Australia Excellency’ thereafter Contact: Governor of South Australia ‘Sir’ Premier The Honourable Steven Marshall MP Dear Premier Premier Premier of South Australia Contact: Premier of South Australia Prime Minister The Honourable Scott Morrison MP Dear Prime Minister Prime Minister or Prime Minister of Australia Mr Morrison Contact: Prime Minister of Australia Lieutenant Governor Professor Brenda Wilson AM Dear Professor Wilson Professor Wilson Lieutenant Governor of South Australia Contact: Lieutenant Governor of South Australia Chief Justice The Honourable Chief Justice Chris Kourakis Dear Chief Justice Chief Justice Chief Justice of South Australia Contact: Chief Justice of South Australia Government Ministers The Honourable (Dr if required) (first name) (surname) MP or MLC Dear Minister Minister or Minister Minister for xxx (surname) Contact: State Cabinet Ministers If addressing a Minister in their electorate office Dear Minister Minister or Minister The Honourable (Dr if required) (first name) (surname) MP or
    [Show full text]
  • Prime Ministers of Australia
    Prime Ministers of Australia No. Prime Minister Term of office Party 1. Edmund Barton 1.1.1901 – 24.9.1903 Protectionist Party 2. Alfred Deakin (1st time) 24.9.1903 – 27.4.1904 Protectionist Party 3. John Christian Watson 27.4.1904 – 18.8.1904 Australian Labor Party 4. George Houstoun Reid 18.8.1904 – 5.7.1905 Free Trade Party - Alfred Deakin (2nd time) 5.7.1905 – 13.11.1908 Protectionist Party 5. Andrew Fisher (1st time) 13.11.1908 – 2.6.1909 Australian Labor Party - Alfred Deakin (3rd time) 2.6.1909 – 29.4.1910 Commonwealth Liberal Party - Andrew Fisher (2nd time) 29.4.1910 – 24.6.1913 Australian Labor Party 6. Joseph Cook 24.6.1913 – 17.9.1914 Commonwealth Liberal Party - Andrew Fisher (3rd time) 17.9.1914 – 27.10.1915 Australian Labor Party 7. William Morris Hughes 27.10.1915 – 9.2.1923 Australian Labor Party (to 1916); National Labor Party (1916-17); Nationalist Party (1917-23) 8. Stanley Melbourne Bruce 9.2.1923 – 22.10.1929 Nationalist Party 9. James Henry Scullin 22.10.1929 – 6.1.1932 Australian Labor Party 10. Joseph Aloysius Lyons 6.1.1932 – 7.4.1939 United Australia Party 11. Earle Christmas Grafton Page 7.4.1939 – 26.4.1939 Country Party 12. Robert Gordon Menzies 26.4.1939 – 29.8.1941 United Australia Party (1st time) 13. Arthur William Fadden 29.8.1941 – 7.10.1941 Country Party 14. John Joseph Ambrose Curtin 7.10.1941 – 5.7.1945 Australian Labor Party 15. Francis Michael Forde 6.7.1945 – 13.7.1945 Australian Labor Party 16.
    [Show full text]
  • Reform of the Australian Labor Party April 2014 on 22 April, Opposition
    Reform of the Australian Labor Party April 2014 On 22 April, Opposition Leader the Hon Bill Shorten MP announced reforms aimed at renewing and modernising the Australian Labor Party. Mr Shorten is the first directly-elected Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party. He was elected under changes implemented under former Prime Minister the Hon Kevin Rudd. The Hawker Britton Occasional Paper on the election of the Federal Labor Leader is available here. The Hawker Britton Occasional Paper on changes implemented by former Prime Minister Rudd to the way Federal Labor leaders are elected is available here. Mr Shorten’s speech is available here. Some of these measures will be directly implemented by the National Secretary. Due to the federal structure of the Australian Labor Party, others will require the cooperation or need to be implemented directly by State and Territory branches themselves. Changes to the ALP membership process Mr Shorten has set a target of 100 000 members. To reach this target, Mr Shorten announced the following measures: a new ‘one-click’ national online joining model for new members to start from July 2014; the establishment of low cost, uniform national membership fees; and the removal of the requirement that prospective members of the Labor party must also join a union. Changes to ALP candidate selection Mr Shorten also called for an overhaul of pre-selection processes, and called for a greater role for the ALP membership in candidate selection at Federal, State and Territory levels. Labor Leader elections: For all Federal, State and Territory leaders to be elected using the 50:50 system similar to that used by Federal Labor in 2013.
    [Show full text]
  • Anthony Albanese Mp Leader of the Australian Labor Party Member for Grayndler Jim Chalmers Mp Shadow Treasurer Member for Rankin
    ANTHONY ALBANESE MP LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY MEMBER FOR GRAYNDLER JIM CHALMERS MP SHADOW TREASURER MEMBER FOR RANKIN BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY SHADOW MINISTER FOR SCIENCE SHADOW MINISTER FOR SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS MEMBER FOR GORTON E&OE TRANSCRIPT DOORSTOP INTERVIEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2020 SUBJECTS: ABS Labour Force data; unemployment/underemployment; bushfire crisis; people missing out on support from the Government during COVID-19; JobKeeper; Australia’s relationship with China; Queensland’s bid for an equity stake in Virgin. BRENDAN O’CONNOR, SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY: Well, thanks very much for coming. I just wanted to respond to the ABS figures today and just say a couple of things about the unemployment rate, underemployment rate, underutilisation rate of the labour market. What is clear is as a result of a number of factors, the labour market has contracted, and we have very, very high underemployment. And yes, unemployment has risen, and one of the reasons it hasn’t even been higher is that the participation rate has collapsed. A very low participation rate and a very, very high underutilisation rate. Almost 20 per cent, which is, of course, unprecedented. And the other thing to remember is this is a picture of the labour market of last month. This is a month ago when the surveys were conducted. So, this is not telling us the story of today, it is telling us the story of a month ago. And yet, these figures are quite frightening. And I think it does go to the question, it was always going to be the case that our nation would be challenged by this pandemic.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Labor Shadow Ministry January 2021
    Federal Labor Shadow Ministry January 2021 Portfolio Minister Leader of the Opposition The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Shadow Cabinet Secretary Senator Jenny McAllister Deputy Leader of the Opposition The Hon Richard Marles MP Shadow Minister for National Reconstruction, Employment, Skills and Small Business Shadow Minister for Science Shadow Minister Assisting for Small Business Matt Keogh MP Shadow Assistant Minister for Employment and Skills Senator Louise Pratt Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Senator the Hon Penny Wong Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy MP Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Senator Jenny McAllister Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Senator the Hon Kristina Keneally Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Shadow Minister for Government Accountability Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles MP Shadow Minister Assisting for Immigration and Citizenship Shadow Minister for Disaster and Emergency Management Senator Murray Watt Shadow Minister Assisting on Government Accountability Pat Conroy MP Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations The Hon Tony Burke MP Shadow Minister for the Arts Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives Shadow Special Minister of State Senator the Hon Don Farrell Shadow Minister for Sport and Tourism Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition Shadow Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers MP Shadow Assistant
    [Show full text]
  • Labor's Fiscal Plan
    LABOR’S FISCAL PLAN LABOR HAS A CLEAR PLAN TO BUILD A STRONG AND FAIR ECONOMY FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS. A Shorten Labor Government will: n Reduce the deficit every year until the budget returns to balance. n Balance the budget in 2020-21, the same year as the Government. n Build strong surpluses over the medium term through fair savings measures that steadily and permanently improve the budget bottom line. Labor’s reforms will achieve $10.5 billion more in budget improvement than the Government over the decade, while: n Protecting Medicare. n Properly funding our schools and universities. n Investing in job-creating infrastructure. n Supporting family budgets. 2 BUDGET REPAIR THAT IS FAIR Labor has a clear plan to build a strong and fair economy for all Australians. We will make the right investments and structural reforms today, while protecting the incomes of working and middle class families. Labor’s responsible and fair savings improve the budget gradually and permanently over the medium term. The Australian economy is in transition during a period of global change and immediate financial market uncertainty. This is not the time to be making deep cuts to family budgets, education, health or job-creating infrastructure. Budget repair must be fair to support the economy, while strengthening the Commonwealth balance sheet over time. Under the Abbott-Turnbull Liberal Government, the budget position is deteriorating, the economy is fragile and working and middle class Australians are being left behind. Before the last election the Liberals promised to fix the budget. But after three years, net debt is more than $100 billion higher and the budget deficit has tripled since the Government’s first budget.
    [Show full text]
  • Ejecting the Party Leader: Party Structures and Cultures: the Removal of Kevin Rudd and Non Removal of Gordon Brown
    Ejecting the Party Leader: Party Structures and Cultures: The Removal of Kevin Rudd and Non Removal of Gordon Brown Dr Mark Bennister, Canterbury Christ Church University [email protected] Dr Tim Heppell, Leeds University PSA CONFERENCE CARDIFF UNIVERSITY 25 MARCH 2013 DRAFT ONLY – CONTACT AUTHORS FOR PERMISSION TO CITE Abstract This article examines the interaction between the respective party structures of the Australian Labor Party and the British Labour Party as a means of assessing the strategic options facing aspiring challengers for the party leadership. Noting the relative neglect within the scholarly literature on examining forced exits that occur; and attempted forced exits that do not occur, this article takes as its case study the successful forced exit of Kevin Rudd, and the failure to remove Gordon Brown. In doing so the article challenges the prevailing assumption that the likely success of leadership evictions are solely determined by the leadership procedures that parties adopt. Noting the significance of circumstances and party cultures, the article advances two scenarios through which eviction attempts can be understood: first, forced exits triggered through the activation of formal procedures (Rudd); second, attempts to force an exit by informal pressures outside of the formal procedures which are overcome by the incumbent (Brown). Keywords Prime Ministers; Party Leadership; Leadership Elections; Party Organisation; Kevin Rudd; Gordon Brown 1 Introduction In an age of valance, rather than positional politics, party identification and competition is increasingly shaped through electoral judgements about the competence and charisma of party leaders (Clarke, Sanders, Stewart and Whiteley, 2004; Bean and Mughan, 1989; Clarke and Stewart, 1995; King, 2002; Aarts and Blais, 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Labor Party LGBTIQ Policy
    LABOR A FAIR GO FOR LGBTIQ AUSTRALIANS A Fair Go For Australia A MESSAGE FROM BILL SHORTEN A Shorten Labor Government will deliver a fairer Australia for LGBTIQ people by tackling discrimination and giving a stronger voice to LGBTIQ Australians. These are all practical steps which take us further along the journey towards equality, providing a more inclusive and fairer Australia. Labor has a proud record of promoting and defending the rights of LGBTIQ people. When Labor was last in Government we introduced an unprecedented number of reforms and rights protections for LGBTIQ Australians, ending legal discrimination in 85 pieces of Commonwealth legislation. “ Labor has a proud record of promoting and defending the rights of LGBTIQ people” In Opposition, we appointed a Shadow Assistant Minister for Equality, a first for a major party in the nation’s Parliament. We have also strongly pushed to end discrimination against LGBTIQ students and teachers in religious schools. We were also at the forefront of the struggle for marriage equality. After the Abbott- Turnbull-Morrison Government forced an expensive, unnecessary and harmful public vote on the country, Labor went all-out to campaign for the YES case. Labor’s support and parliamentary work was crucial to the survey outcome and the enactment of marriage equality in 2017. While the changes to the Marriage Act were a giant step towards greater equality, it wasn’t the end of the road. People with diverse sexualities, gender identities and sex characteristics still face discrimination and structural impediments to full participation in society. Given Labor’s record, the community is looking to Labor to continue to stand up for the rights of LGBTIQ people and their children.
    [Show full text]