Media Release
Friday December 1st 2023

RENEWED CALL FOR LGBTIQA+ COMMISSIONER AFTER GOVT ESTABLISHES ANTI-SLAVERY COMMISSIONER

Just Equal Australia has renewed its call for an LGBTIQA+ Human Rights Commissioner following the tabling of Government legislation establishing an Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

Spokesperson, Brian Greig, said,

"We welcome the establishment of an Anti-Slavery Commissioner, however the Government's initiative highlights the lack of an equivalent Commissioner for the LGBTIQA+ community.

"The Human Rights Commission has commissioners for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, young people, older people, racial minorities and people with disability."

"The glaring omission of an LGBTIQA+ Commissioner sends the message that our rights are less important than the rights of others."

"This stigmatising message has been underlined by the establishment of an Anti-Slavery Commissioner."

"At a time when LGBTIQA+ human rights are increasingly under siege the appointment of a stand-alone Commissioner is urgent."

In 2016 then shadow Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, promised to appoint an LGBTIQA+ Human Rights Commissioner but Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, dropped the policy prior to the last federal election. In 2022 Labor voted down a move by the Greens and independents to establish such a Commissioner.