GOVT ADMITS IT FAILED TO CONSULT LGBTIQA+ COMMUNITY AHEAD OF JOBS SUMMIT
CALL FOR COMMITTEES TO ADVISE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON LGBTIQA+ ISSUES
The Federal Government has admitted none of the 100 roundtables and 40 stakeholder meetings it convened before last year's landmark Jobs and Skills Summit specifically focussed on LGBTIQA+ workplace issues.
This comes on top of the fact that none of the 140 delegates to the Summit represented LGBTIQA+ community organisations.
The revelation has prompted Just.Equal Australia to call for the Federal Government to establish LGBTIQA+ advisory committees similar to those operating in most states.
Just.Equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
"It is appalling that voices of LGBTIQA+ communities were not heard at the Jobs and Skills Summit, or in the consultation that led up to it.”
“Our community experiences high rates of discrimination in the workplace and in vocational training."
"Just.Equal repeatedly raised this concern before the Summit so the Government cannot say it forgot us."
"Our community’s exclusion from every level of consultation and representation looks like a deliberate decision to ignore LGBTIQA+ workplace discrimination."
Just.Equal has previously raised concern about the lack of LGBTIQA+ community consultation ahead of the current Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry into exemptions allowing discrimination by faith-based schools on the grounds of sexual orienation, gender identity, pregnancy and marital status. Seven religious organisations were consulted, none of them LGBTIQA+ inclusive. Only one LGBTIQA+ group was consulted and no women's groups. More here: https://ymlp.com/zjo8wrrcc
Mr Croome called on the Federal Government to establish permanent LGBTIQA+ advisory groups in portfolios such as employment, health, education, foreign affairs and across the whole-of-government to ensure the LGBTIQA+ community has a say on issues affecting it.
"Most state governments have LGBTIQA+ advisory groups and it's time for the federal government to do the same."
"Permanent advisory groups will help ensure the voices of LGBTIQA+ communities are heard whenever the Government is considering policies and programs that impact on our community."
The revelation about the Jobs and Skills Summit exclusion of LGBTIQA+ voices came in response to questions on notice from Greens Senator, Janet Rice. A copy is attached.
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
