Politicians vie for the queer vote at Rainbow Votes Forum

Politicians from the Australian Labor Party (ALP), Liberal-National Party Coalition (LNP), the Australian Greens and the so-called “teal independents” pitched their respective parties to queer voters at the Rainbow Votes Election Forum in Sydney on Tuesday night.

One of the big surprises of the night was the Liberals’ Senator Andrew Bragg confirming that if elected the LNP will implement the current Labor government’s National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025-2035. The plan was released last December and involves spending $15.5 million over 10 years to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ people, but has been criticised for lacking an implementation plan.

Other key issues of concern that were raised throughout the forum included the growing hate towards LGBTQIA+ communities and what the parties plan to do about it and the Liberals’ views on trans and gender diverse rights and religious discrimination exemptions for faith-based schools.

Read more about the Rainbow Votes Election Forum here.