Media Release
Tuesday June 30th 2026
BILL TO APPOINT NATIONAL LGBTIQA+ DISCRIMINATION COMMISSIONER WELCOMED
National LGBTIQA+ lobby group, Just.Equal Australia, has welcomed an Australian Greens’ bill appointing an LGBTIQA+ Discrimination Commissioner to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
"Given there are already commissioners for race, sex, age, children, indigenous people and people with disability, the absence of an LGBTIQA+ Discrimination Commissioner sends the message that discrimination against us matters less."
"At a time when there is a rise in anti-LGBTIQA+ discrimination and hate it is more important than ever for there to be a Commissioner who has the time, resources and expertise to defend our human rights."
“Just.Equal Australia has been campaigning for an LGBTIQA+ Discrimination Commissioner for many years so we’re happy Greens’ LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, Senator Nick McKim, has taken this important step forward.”
“We will now write to all parties and independents explaining the importance of the bill and asking them to support it.”
The bill will also update references to “intersex status” in the Sex Discrimination Act to the more inclusive and appropriate term, “innate variations of sex characteristics”.
Mr Croome praised the LGBTIQA+ human rights advocacy of Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Anna Cody, but said she is effectively a part-time LGBTIQA+ human rights advocate because of her role advocating against discrimination on other grounds including sex, marital status, pregnancy and family responsibilities.
The Greens’ bill will be tabled in the Senate this afternoon. A Just.Equal explainer about the issue is attached. So is a copy of Senator McKim's second reading speech.
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
