Rodney Croome . gay advocate

Pink tape - 2

Government funding for LGBT community human rights education should go to those with a track-record on the issue.

350 is not only an important number because it is the name of a campaign to save the planet from global heating (350 particles of CO2 per million is the upper limit for humanity’s survival. Currently, it’s 389).

It’s also important because it’s how much the Federal Government is giving the LGBT community to educate itself on recent federal law reforms.

Yesterday, the Feds announced a $350,000 allocation, with an additional $100,000 to go to the welfare rights network.

Corey Irlam from ACE is right to call the allocation a “win”. This is the largest amount ever given by an Australian government for education on LGBT issues.

But the concerns I raised a couple of days ago stand.

Why has this money been given to a network of HIV-focussed health organisations which have no track-record or expertise in this area?

It's like giving an Aboriginal drug and alcohol service the money and mandate to educate Indigenous people about land rights.

The proper recipients of these funds are legal and human rights organisations based in or linked to the LGBT community. They have a track-record of educating the LGBT community on state and federal law reforms. They were key to achieving the federal reforms in question. They are closer to local LGBT communities, including vulnerable members of those communities, than some amorphous conglomeration of AIDS Councils.

The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, GALE in WA, ARCQ in Queensland, Good Process in the ACT, the Tas G&L Rights Group, even the NSW GLRL whose over-caution I often take issue with - they have all proven that with little or no money they can effectively consult with, advocate to and educate their local LGBT communities on legal rights.

With very little money the Veeg produced this. With no money at all the Teeg produced this.

Just imagine what these groups could do with $350,000?

Instead, I fear that the money will be squandered on the kind of focus groups and advertising agents big-budget health promotion organisations are addicted to, and which the National Health Alliance will grab at to fill the gap in its expertise and credibility.

I had hoped yesterday’s announcement might allay some of my concerns. Instead they’ve grown.

On the issue of same-sex partners losing social security entitlements because the Government refuses to provide the same grandfathering provisions it has previously used to protect disadvantaged people from the downside of social security reform, the Health Alliance declares,

“Complex administrative issues prevent the ‘grandfathering’ of the reforms which was always our preferred option.”

No, very simple political issues are the reason there’s no grandfathering provision, e.g. government fear of misinformed tabloid headlines.

Clearly, the HA can be counted on by the Government to pliantly peddle its line to the LGBT community and loyally manage its business with that community, just like the AIDS Councils that make up the HA have done for the last 20 years.

ACON CEO Stevie Clayton also doesn’t hearten me when she says,

“…a national advisory group will be formed over the next few weeks to oversee the implementation of both projects. We’ll be calling for nominations from a range of community and welfare agencies across Australia to get a mix of knowledge and skills that will ensure this work meets the needs of the communities we serve.“

Last year’s reform has already begun to take effect. Some of the most important changes start in a few weeks. We already have all the information we need. I know from the forums I’ve spoken at that couples desperately need that information now.

And what is the HA doing? – flagging that at some stage in the next few weeks it will call for nominations to an advisory group.

Incredible.

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It’s easy to get irritated by this kind of thing, so to keep it all in perspective here’s some awful and sobering news.