Rodney Croome . gay advocate

Party snapshot

This 2010 federal election party snapshot was published in Out in Perth in July 2010.

ALP

Labor has picked up on overdue reforms like recognising same-sex de facto couples federally, and smaller issues like advocating against LGBTI discrimination internationally. But it is still unwilling to move on big-picture items like national LGBTI anti-discrimination laws and marriage equality. There's no obvious sign this pattern will change under Julia Gillard.
5.5/10

Liberal Party

The Liberals have failed to follow the UK Conservatives by moving to the centre and developing their own LGBT policies. Instead, many of them still seem to think LGBT issues are only important as a way to wedge their opponents. I see no movement away from this under Tony Abbott.
4/10

National Party

The National Party is yet to follow its WA counterpart by moving closer to the centre on LGBT issues. The dominance of anti-gay figures like Ron Boswell and Barnaby Joyce bodes ill for egalitarian bush values having any influence on the Nats' attitudes to LGBT people.
3/10

Australian Greens

The Australian Greens have strong policies and have been keen to fly the flag on marriage equality. But I can't give them a full score until they come up with a practical, long-term plan for working with the LGBT community to achieve shared goals.
7/10

Family First

Family First puts the families of LGBT people last.
1/10

Christian Democratic Party

The CDP goes one step further than Family First and actually demonises LGBT people.
-2/10

Democratic Labour Party of Australia

The DLP has shown some signs of moving on from its unpromising origins as a largely Catholic party, but how far remains to be seen.
2/10

Socialist Alliance

Like the Greens, SA has strong policies and is active on marriage equality, but it has little parliamentary experience.
7/10