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ACT election policy summary
From ACT LGBTI action group Good Process comes a summary of the policies of the mjor parties contesting this weekend's ACT election.
A summary of the policy statements that specifically refer to the GLBTI community from the major parties contesting the ACT Election this weekend, listed in alphabetical order -
ACT DEMOCRATS
ACT GREENS
ACT LABOR
CANBERRA LIBERALS
Links to the websites have been included if you would like to find out more for yourself.
ACT DEMOCRATS PLATFORM PAPER
Sexuality and Gender Identity
KEY INITIATIVES
An ACT Relationships Register: The ACT Democrats will introduce legislation to allow Canberra couples, whether same-sex or otherwise, to register their relationships with the ACT Government, giving them immediate legal access to all rights given to domestic
partnerships. An ACT Office of Sexuality and Gender Identity: The ACT Democrats support the establishment of a central policy unit within the Chief Minister‚s Department to co-ordinate programs targeted at improving health and social outcomes for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender
GLBTI-friendly Services: While discrimination still exists, the GLBTI community needs health, counselling, emergency accommodation, and youth services that are identified as queer-friendly, so clients can seek help without fear of encountering hostility or prejudice.
Also separate commitments under the headings:
*Fighting Discrimination
*Supporting the GBLTI Community
*Assisting Transgender and Intersex People
http://www.act.democrats.org.au/election/issuesheets/Sexuality%20and%20Gender.pdf
ACT GREENS POLICY SEPTEMBER 2004
Sexual Identity
The ACT Greens believe:
*the dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people needs to be upheld;
*no-one should be harassed, abused, vilified, stigmatised, discriminated against, disadvantaged or exploited because of their sexual orientation;
*gender and sexual orientation is personal business;
*all people, regardless of sexuality, are an important part of our cultural diversity;
*all people have the right to make fully informed choices about their lives and to seek medical intervention if they deem this appropriate; and
*there should be equal treatment of all consensual adult-adult relationships regardless of sexuality.
Also separate policy positions under the headings:
*Legal rights
*Parenting and families
*Anti-discrimination
*Immigration issues
*Police and prison issues
*Cultural and community events
*Health and welfare issues
*Young people
*Workplace reform
http://www.act.greens.org.au/policies/sexuality-September-2004.pdf
ACT LABOR ˆ PLATFORM 2003-2004
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender And Intersex Rights
Acknowledging that Labor believes that all people are entitled to respect, dignity and the right to participate in society and to receive the protection of the law regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, Labor will implement policies and legislate generally to give effect to this belief. In particular, a Labor government will:
1. Legislate to achieve equal legal status for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity:
2. Introduce programs to fight discrimination against, and vilification of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people;
3. Legislate for two people regardless of gender to enter into a legally recognised union.‰
http://www.act.alp.org.au/policy/platform/platform_2003.pdf
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CANBERRA LIBERALS POLICY STATEMENT 2004
Justice Policy Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
Specifically, we will repeal the Human Rights Act and provisions in legislation enabling same sex adoption, Industrial Manslaughter and union right of entry into
the workplace.
Context
Over the years some antiquated, unnecessary and at times over regulatory legislation has accumulated in the ACT.
Further, the current Stanhope Government has introduced some unnecessary and unpopular socially experimental legislation such as same-sex-adoption, Industrial Manslaughter and the Bill of Rights (Human Rights Act 2004).
Key Actions:
We will achieve this by repealing antiquated, over regulatory and socially experimental pieces of
legislation. Specifically, we will repeal the Human Rights Act and provisions in legislation enabling same sex adoption, Industrial Manslaughter and union right of entry into the workplace.
http://www.canberrraliberals.org.au/policies/Justice_Policy.pdf
There are a lot of independents and smaller parties who are also in the ACT election, but do not have time to get information on all of those other candidates.
REMEMBER EVERY VOTE COUNTS
JOINING THE GOOD PROCESS UPDATE LIST
If you would like to make sure that you are kept in the loop about law reform for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and that you have the information you need to make a difference then join the Good Process Update List. It is very low traffic. To join send an email to good_process_act@hotmail.com saying that you want to be on the Update List. If you would like to be more actively involved in queer law reform you can join the Good Process Working Group ˆ who represent GLBTI Canberrans. You will be put on an email discussion list (which can be quite heavy traffic at times) and find out about meetings and how you can get involved. To join send an email to good_process_act@hotmail.com saying that you want to join the Working Group. If you live outside the ACT and want to get involved in your State‚s queer lobby send us an email at good_process_act@hotmail.com and we‚ll send you the relevant contact details.
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