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The ACT’s rainbow vote

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What should queer Canberrans expect if the ACT Liberals win at the territory election in October, Hannah Head asks opposition leader Elizabeth Lee.

Canberra is renowned for its political landscape, bureaucracy and iconic rainbow roundabout. The capital has been at the forefront of LGBTQIA+ policy advancements, from pioneering same-sex marriage to championing adoption rights and intersex protections. 

With the Labour government holding sway in Canberra since 2001, the upcoming election holds the promise of transformative shifts for the territory. 

Elizabeth Lee leads the ACT Liberals into this political arena, armed with a $65 million cost-of-living package aimed at bolstering families, transportation and community investment. Yet, amidst this vision, what might an ACT Liberal government signify for the LGBTQIA+ community?

While the Canberra Liberals haven’t disclosed the percentage of LGBTQIA+ candidates for the election, they have signalled a commitment to representing constituents from diverse backgrounds, including the queer community. With the party still finalising election policies, Elizabeth Lee underscores that their focus will always be on the welfare of all Canberrans, in an emailed response to STUN: “The policies that will be put forward by the Canberra Liberals will always be about what is in the best interests of Canberrans from all backgrounds and communities including the LGBTQIA+ community.” The leader elaborated further that she “look[s] forward to having ongoing discussions with Canberrans from the LGBTQIA+ community in the lead up to the election.”

With Canberra having the greatest per capita number of same-sex couples of any city in Australia, the role of the Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs is crucial to the representation of the queer community. The Office has been integral in coordinating government efforts and policies and for its community grants program, ensuring the best possible outcomes for all queer individuals in the ACT. 

When asked about the future of the Office under Liberal leadership, Lee states: “There are no plans for this office to be changed or impacted by a Liberal government in the ACT. The Canberra Liberals will continue to work with members of all communities including the LGBTQIA+ community to ensure the ACT is an inclusive city and all Canberrans are provided the same opportunities.”

When addressing essential support for the intersex community, Lee points to the Liberal Party’s lack of opposition to community programs aimed at providing better care and support. On the topic of the Canberra Health Service’s Variations in Sexual Characteristics Psychosocial Service, Lee notes that: “The Bill was about providing better care and support to intersex people and their families, which we support.”

Under a Liberal ACT government, it seems on the surface that little will change for our community. The absence of a clear, LGBTQIA+ oriented policy agenda and minimal emphasis on queer-related outcomes suggest that these crucial issues may be sidelined during this campaign. While there’s no explicit intent to roll back existing protections, it seems that LGBTQIA+ concerns might not play much of a role in determining the outcome of this election.