Labor Divided on Marriage
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Australia's most respected LGBTI news source Friday 11 October 2013 | Issue 1196 | starobserver.com.au TASMANIAN EQUALITY PAGE 05 GAY PRESS INQUIRY PAGE 09 MONGOLIAN PRIDE PAGE 10 MEET JILL SCOTT PAGE 14 Katie Underwood to heat up CoastOut Music starobserver.com.au Former Bardot starlet Katie Underwood is heading for the beach, headlining at this year’s Coas- tOut Festival in Coffs Harbour to debut a brand-new single. We caught up with Underwood about heading to CoastOut and getting back on the dancefloor - turn to page 15 for the full story. Labor divided on marriage National Paul Howes openly called for the party we must not allow a conscience vote on in party policy despite both men being Penny Wong has joined Howes, saying Alex McKinnon to adopt same-sex marriage as binding this fundamental issue of righting a wrong personally supportive of marriage equality. that she has long believed the Labor Party policy in a speech to the Future of Marriage that exists in our society,” Howes said in the “My position on marriage equality has should fully support marriage equality as “a Senior Labor figures are divided on the Equality Forum last week, saying that he speech. been long standing and consistent - it’s matter of principle rather than a matter of question of whether the party should had erred in pushing for a conscience vote “Frankly, if you find yourself believing a reform whose time has come and the conscience”. change its position on same-sex marriage, at the 2012 ALP National Conference and otherwise then it is my strong belief that you parliament should act. But equally, I believe The ALP adopted a conscience-vote with a growing number of politicians and that Labor should fully support same-sex do not belong with us.” this can best be achieved when all members position on same-sex marriage at the 2012 party elders calling for a conscience vote to marriage as “a matter of basic social justice”. In the aftermath of Howes’ speech, which and senators are given a free vote on any Conference. However, if the ALP had voted be abandoned in favour of full support for “I am hopeful that many others like me the Star Observer featured exclusively in future legislation,” Albanese said when to adopt a binding policy of support, several marriage equality. who mistakenly supported a conscience last week’s edition, both contestants for the questioned. failed attempts to legalise same-sex marriage The division comes after AWU national vote will realise the error of their ways and Labor leadership, Bill Shorten and Anthony However, former Finance Minister and during the tenure of the former Labor secretary and senior Labor powerbroker realise that for Labor to have a conscience, Albanese, ruled out pushing for any change Leader of the Government in the Senate government may have met with success. Meet Mr.Write. Everyone looks smarter with a pen in their hand. 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Services subject to device capabilities, network limitations & customer location. 4G: 4G available to customers with a 4G device, who have either an eligible 4G plan, or who have a current (4G) Data Add‑on added to any plan with Vodafone Alerts. The Vodafone 4G network has launched with coverage in selected major metro areas of Sydney and Perth, with some coverage in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong. Coverage will increase throughout the year, so check out the coverage checker on vodafone.com.au for the latest network information. Vodafone Pty Limited ABN 76 062 954 554. VRETL0020/FPC/SO VRETL0020_ProjectH_310x280mm_MrW_SO.indd 1 8/10/13 2:00 PM Star Observer Friday 11 October 2013 | Issue 1196 | starobserver.com.au National NEWS 03 CONTENTS 03 ... National News Government’s 06 ... New South Wales News 08 ... Victoria News silence on LGBTI aged care National 09 ... Queensland News Serkan Ozturk 10 ... In Depth - Mongolian Pride Continued silence from the new federal government on LGBTI aged care issues 12 ... Opinion is causing concern among advocates for LGBTI elders. 14 ... Entertainment A report published in Fairfax mastheads last week suggested neither the new Attorney-General, George 18 ... Scene Brandis, or Mitch Fifield – the newly named Assistant Minister for Social 29 ... Classifieds Services now in charge of aged care – were willing to comment on matters 30 ... Adult Classifieds affecting elderly LGBTI people, including whether the government plans to reverse recent amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act that ban faith-based CEO/Publisher Daniel Bone Editor Alex McKinnon aged-care providers from denying FM’s Rainbow Report program. Senator Aged Care Act,” Harrison told the Star guess, of respecting these religious Staff Journalists Serkan Ozturk, access or care to aged-care service on the Ryan confirmed the Coalition’s support Observer. organisations’ right to manage their own Benjamin Riley, David Alexander, Nick Bond, grounds of religious exemption. for the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged “Anything less would be a terrible step affairs and not allow an undue intrusion Contributors Fairfax also sought confirmation on Care Strategy, the retention of the anti- backwards and result in the loss of very by the government. I don’t think, in Carys Goulding, Jason Reed whether the government supported discrimination protection in relation to significant gains we have made for our substance, there are going to be any Design / Social Media Troy Murphy This publication has been independently the aims of the newly launched aged care, and the recognition of LGBTI elders over the past several years.” significant consequences.” Staff Photographer Ann-Marie Calilhanna, audited by the Circulation Audit National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care as a special needs group in the Aged In an interview with the Star Observer Office Manager/Accounts Gary Stocks Board. Greens Senator Penny Wright, the Advertising Mike Evans, Ben Fingleton, Strategy, under which $2.5 million was Care Act,” Harrison said. only days before the September 7 party’s spokesperson on legal affairs, Todd Buttery, Kate Balazs, Zachary George earmarked for “sensitivity training” to be “Further, the Coalition’s response to election, Communications Minister told the Star Observer it was “hugely ClassifiedsMike Evans provided by the National LGBTI Health the LGBTI organisations’ survey prior to Malcolm Turnbull refused to clarify concerning” that Prime Minister Tony Board of Directors Sebastian Rice (Chair), Daniel Bone, Denise Hanlon, Scott Hartley, Garry Oliver, Kate Radcliffe Alliance. the election indicated absolute support whether an incoming Coalition Abbott’s ministers were refusing to According to Fairfax, a spokeswoman for the special anti-discrimination government would seek to amend the answer simple questions about legal Contact 1300 500 379 for Fifield declined to comment on protections in relation to aged care that legislation, considering Liberal and protections for some of the most Published weekly and distributed free nation wide by Star Observer whether the Strategy was needed and are in the Sex Discrimination Act.” Nationals MPs had opposed the bill in vulnerable Australians. ABN 57 003 397 582. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.starobserver.com.au. Postal address: Level 3, 21 Oxford Street, would only say he had sought a briefing Harrison’s research into the the Senate only a few months ago when “This secrecy creates a great deal PO Box 939, Darlinghurst NSW 1300. on the issues and was “working through discrimination experienced by older in Opposition. of uncertainty. Everyone in an aged Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without written them,” while Brandis (pictured) failed to LGBTI people when using aged care “We were supporting the bill, but we care facility deserves to know they will permition of the editor. Receipt of manuscripts will be taken as permission to print unless the contrary is specifically indicated. answer any questions at all. services helped formed a large part of opposed the last minute amendment get the best care and be treated with Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily endorsed by Dr Jo Harrison, a gerontologist at the the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged by the government to remove existing respect and dignity, regardless of their the publisher. No responsibility is accepted by the publisher for the accuracy of information contained in any part of the text or University of South Australia and an Care Strategy, launched by former exemptions for religious organisations. sexuality,” Wright said. advertisement in this publication. Advertisers are responsible for expert in LGBTI aged care, told the Star Mental Health and Ageing Minister This exemption has been a core part of “Minister Brandis and Minister Fifield advertising copy by virtue of the Trade Practices Act. Observer she hoped the media reports Mark Butler in December last year. our anti-discrimination laws for a long must come clean about their plans © 2013 Star Observer • ISSN 1837-090X • Printed on paper sourced from legal and fully sustainable diverse were not reflective of Coalition MPs “It is vital for our community and time and it’s really an issue of principle,” because Australians deserve to know forests that are independently certified and is fully recyclable.