Australian Greens: Greens slam Liberals on LGBTIQA+ rights

The Victorian Greens have slammed the Victorian Liberals on LGBTIQA+ rights and have urged Victorian voters to vote Greens in November to ensure a progressive Parliament.

Earlier today it was reported that Liberal leader Matthew Guy has pledged to wind back reforms passed last year that protect LGBTQ+ staff from discrimination in religious schools.

The Religious Exceptions Act was passed last year and prevents religious schools from being able to sack or refuse to hire LGBTQ+ staff.

However, Guy has reportedly pledged to trash the law if his party is elected in November.

Victorian Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, Sam Hibbins, said LGBTIQA+ rights were at risk with the Liberals. The Greens have committed to strengthening the Equal Opportunity Act to further protect LGBTIQA+ students and staff in the next term of Parliament. 

Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, Sam Hibbins MP: 

“We should all feel safe and have equal opportunities in life, no matter our sexuality, gender identity or sex characteristics.

“Yet here in Victoria lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual people continue to face discrimination across multiple areas of their lives.

“The reforms the Greens helped pass last year were an important step towards protecting LGBTIQA+ communities from discrimination – but we know there’s so much more to do.

“Yet the Liberals are already talking about trashing those reforms.

“With more Greens in the next Parliament we can strengthen our laws so that LGBTIQA+ students are protected at religious schools, and protect them against the Liberals’ plans to trash equal opportunity laws.”