Tag: Greens

Candidate statement: Kim Samiotis – Greens candidate for Albert Park

The following political statement has been supplied by Kim Samiotis who is running as a candidate for Albert Park District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

Kim Samiotis
Candidate for Albert Park

My name is Kim Samiotis (pronouns: she/her) and I’m The Greens candidate for Albert Park.

Thank you to Aleph and your community for the opportunity to make my commitment to LGBTIQA+ people in Melbourne’s Jewish community.

The LGBTIQA+ community has been my family since I was born. One of the longest, most stable and loving relationships in my life has been my aunts’ who finally married this year after celebrating their 40th anniversary. I was a teenager when my Mum came out and I witnessed the incredible courage that the community must summon to define their identity in our community. For me, these relationships have always been so normal and healthy and I will always fight for recognition, support and inclusion for queer and gender-diverse people. Who we love, how we identify and the shape of our physical form do not define the goodness of a person.

I am proud to be a member of the Victorian Greens, a party that has always stood with the LGBTIQA+ community across our state. We have fought hard for equal rights and safety for all and I remain committed to continuing the journey towards true equality alongside my LGBTIQA+ colleagues, friends and family.

To begin the next steps of this advocacy, The Victorian Greens have launched our Rainbow State Action Plan to further strengthen our equal opportunity and anti-vilification laws. We will make vilification and public harassment a crime to better protect marginalised Victorians from all minorities and to support victims of hate crimes.

We’ve included a Rainbow State Fund of $200 million over the next term for community-controlled organisations to facilitate their focus on key areas of need such as mental health, youth services, homelessness and sexual health.

We will work to ban deferrable medical interventions on intersex children and continue to work with the LGBTIQA+ community to identify the next essential areas for reform, including adoption, assisted reproductive treatment and surrogacy, to make sure that our laws protect everyone. 33% of LGBTIQA+ people report experiencing anxiety in the last 12 months and 57% report experiencing high distress in the last 4 weeks. Community connection and dependable support can aid these people when they’re most in need.

You can read more about the details and funding for our Rainbow State Action Plan here:

greens.org.au/vic/rainbowstateplan

We are all more alike than those who peddle fear and hate would allow us to believe. Everyone deserves to feel safe from discrimination in their daily lives and to be able to access support and services that meet their needs.

To Aleph members, the Jewish community, and LGBTIQA+ communities across Victoria, The Greens stand with you and I will work tirelessly to represent you in parliament if elected to represent Albert Park at this coming election. No matter what, I will always be by your side, marching, speaking and advocating on your behalf with the love and care that I feel for my own family.

Thank you, Aleph, for your support and may your community advocacy continue with great success.

Kim Samiotis
Greens Candidate for Albert Park

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Candidate statement: Nick Savage – Greens candidate for Hawthorn

Nick Savage

The following political statement has been supplied by Nick Savage who is running as a candidate for Hawthorn District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

As a Greens candidate, I’m proud to stand up for LGBTIQA+ community members. Although the rights and representation of this community have expanded greatly over the last few decades there are still those in power who wish to see these rights repealed, exemplified by Matthew Guy’s discrimination Bill. The Greens and I are committed to fighting against this prejudice in any form it may take.  

Specifically, for the Victorian State election, we will submit an ‘Equality Bill’ to parliament that will strengthen the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent all faith-based schools and organisations from discriminating against LGBTIQA+ students, staff and services users; give the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission stronger powers, including stronger investigatory powers and enforceable determinations; expand anti-vilification laws to protect LGBTIQA+ people and support victims of hate crimes, including by making vilification and public harassment a crime and legislating to make violence motivated by hate a specific criminal offence; ban deferrable medical interventions on children with intersex characteristics and restrict all sex characteristic altering medical treatment on intersex people without personal consent or oversight from an independent expert panel; and protect the important work of the LGBTIQ+ Communities Commissioner and the LGBTIQ+ Taskforce by enshrining them in legislation. 

In addition to this, however, the Greens will also establish a $200 million ‘Rainbow State Fund’ that will help fund community controlled LGBTIQA+ services in key areas of need such as mental health, multicultural and youth services, homelessness and sexual health, and much, much more. As I don’t wish to overload you with too much information, please check out the link below if you’d like to know more about our election platform. 

Nevertheless, I apologise for the block of information I’ve already presented here, but I recognise that we still have a long way to go in supporting LGBTIQA+ communities, and the Greens are committed to building upon the progress that we’ve already made. Everyone should feel safe from discrimination and be able to access support and services that meet their needs. With more Greens in Parliament, we’ll push for comprehensive changes to make this a reality.   

Here is a link to our LGBTIQA+ election platform: greens.org.au/vic/rainbowstateplan

Candidate statement: Sam Hibbins – Greens for Prahran

The following political statement has been supplied by Sam Hibbins who is running as a candidate for Prahran District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a candidate statement to Aleph Melbourne and thank you for the work you do to support our Jewish LGBTIQA+ community.

Myself and the Victorian Greens are a party who stands with LGBTIQA+ Victorians. And while we’ve come a long way, there’s still more work to be done. The Green are committed to continuing to fight to ensure that all Victorian’s are able to live a happy, healthy and equal life, free from discrimination and prejudice.

The LGBTIQA+ communities in Victoria are strong and resilient, but we also know of the disparities in the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBTIQA+ community when compared to the general population.

There’s still members of the LGBTIQA+ communities who face discrimination, prejudice, violence, isolation, stigma and exclusion and this causes harm and affect people’s health and well being in a profound way.

Myself and the Greens are committed to continuing to address these harms and to fighting for a more just and inclusive future.

The Victorian Greens have launched our Rainbow State Action Plan.

https://greens.org.au/vic/rainbowstateplan

This plan includes two key elements. The first is further changes to our laws, we need to continue to strengthen our equal opportunity laws, we must expand anti-vilification laws and make vilification and public harassment a crime to better protect LGBTIQA+ people and support victims of hate crimes.

We need to look at a ban of deferrable medical interventions on intersex children and continue to work with the LGBTIQA+ community to identify further areas of reform, including adoption, assisted reproductive treatment and surrogacy, to make sure that our laws protect everyone.

The second element is a Rainbow State Fund of $200 million over the next term for community-controlled LGBTIQA+ organisations, with a focus on key areas of need such as mental health, youth services, homelessness and sexual health.

We’ve heard that LGBTIQA+ community organisations are tired of the funding uncertainty, or the constant under funding.

And we know the need and demand in communities for dedicated services is high. These services are best delivered by community, for community.

We’d also specifically fund:

  • An additional clinical services for trans, gender diverse and non-binary Victorians
  • An accommodation facility, with associated support and health services, for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people
  • Social, psychological and peer support for intersex people and their families
  • Establishing an LGBTIQA+ Community Hub with family services, youth facilities, events, and co-located health services
  • Support services for survivors of conversion practices
  • Ongoing funding for pride events and festivals around the state

Everyone should feel safe from discrimination and be able to access support and services that meet their needs.

To Aleph members and LGBTIQA+ communities across Victoria, the Greens stand with you.

We see you. We hear you. And we’re fighting for you in the state parliament, so that Victoria truly becomes the rainbow state.

Sam Hibbins MP

Member for Prahran
Victorian Greens spokesperson for LGBTIQA+ Equality

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Candidate statement: Jessamine Moffett – Greens for Clarinda

The following political statement has been supplied by Jessamine Moffett who is running as a candidate for Clarinda District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

LGBTIQA+ equality is an issue incredibly close to my heart because not only am I a member of the community but many of my closest friends are. The LGBTIQA+ community deserves to be seen and respected. 

No matter our sexuality or gender identity we should all feel safe from discrimination and be able to access support and services that meet our needs. With more Greens in Parliament we’ll push for comprehensive changes to make this a reality.

The Greens are committed to putting $200 million into a Rainbow State Fund as well as establishing an ‘Equality Bill’.  

This fund will support initiatives such as:

  1. Funding for community controlled LGBTIQA+ services in key areas of need such as mental health, multicultural and youth services, homelessness and sexual health
  2. Establishing an accommodation facility, with associated support and health services, for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people 
  3. Establishing an LGBTIQA+ Community Hub with family services, youth facilities, events, and co-located health services 
  4. Investing in additional clinical services for trans, gender diverse and non-binary Victorians
  5. Ongoing funding for pride events and festivals around the state
  6. Social, psychological and peer support for intersex people and their families
  7. Support services for survivors of conversion practices  

You can find out more about the Rainbow State Plan at the link below:
https://greens.org.au/vic/rainbowstateplan

I’m completely open to answering any questions or having conversations people may want to have and my inbox is always open. You can find me at the links below:
https://greens.org.au/vic/person/jessamine-moffett
https://www.instagram.com/jessaminemoffettgreens
https://www.facebook.com/JessamineMoffettGreens

Candidate statement: Sarah Dekiere – Greens for Brighton

The following political statement has been supplied by Sarah Dekiere who is running as a candidate for Brighton District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

I believe that we should all feel safe and have equal opportunities in life, no matter our sexuality, gender identity or sex characteristics. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) people continue to face discrimination across multiple areas of their lives. We need to improve our laws so that no one faces discrimination or harm because of their sexuality, gender identity or sex characteristics. We need to properly fund LGBTIQA+ led organisations so that people can access quality services that truly meet their needs.

Despite some positive changes, there are still too many gaps in Victoria’s laws which allow discrimination against LGBTIQA+ people to continue. This Discrimination causes harm and its impacts can be deep and damaging.

Our Plan

The Greens plan includes:

An ‘Equality Bill’ for Victoria

  • The Greens will introduce comprehensive legislation that will:
  • Strengthen the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent all faith-based schools and organisations from discriminating against LGBTIQA+ students, staff and services users.
  • Give the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission stronger powers, including stronger investigatory powers and enforceable determinations
  • Expand anti-vilification laws to protect LGBTIQA+ people and support victims of hate crimes, including by making vilification and public harassment a crime and legislating to make violence motivated by hate a specific criminal offence
  • Ban deferrable medical interventions on children with intersex characteristics and restrict all sex characteristic altering medical treatment on intersex people without personal consent or oversite from an independent expert panel
  • Protect the important work of the LGBTIQ+ Communities Commissioner and the LGBTIQ+ Taskforce by enshrining them in legislation

We will also continue to work with the LGBTIQA+ community to identify further areas of reform, including adoption, assisted reproductive treatment and surrogacy, to make sure that our laws protect everyone.

A $200 Million ‘Rainbow State Fund’ for LGBTIQA+ community-led organisations:

This fund will support initiatives such as:

  • Funding for community controlled LGBTIQA+ services in key areas of need such as mental health, youth services, homelessness and sexual health
  • Establishing an accommodation facility, with associated support and health services, for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people
  • Establishing an LGBTIQA+ Community Hub with family services, youth facilities, events, and co-located health services
  • Investing in additional clinical services for trans, gender diverse and non-binary Victorians
  • Ongoing funding for pride events and festivals around the state
  • Social, psychological and peer support for intersex people and their families
  • Support services for survivors of conversion practices

Candidate statement: Dr Hsiang-Han Hsieh – Greens for Oakleigh

The following political statement has been supplied by Dr Hsiang-Han Hsieh who is running as a candidate for Oakleigh District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

My name is Hsiang (pronouns he/him), and I am the Greens candidate for the Oakleigh district.

I am proud gay/queer person of color, working as a doctor in mental health, and living with my partner in Oakleigh.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) people continue to face discrimination across multiple areas of our lives. As a result, our community is disproportionately affected with poor health, mental health, and social wellbeing.

The Greens have always championed the rights of LGBTIQA+ people, even before any other party did. The Greens plan includes:

  • An “Equality Bill” for Victoria, which strengthens the Equal Opportunity Act, strengthens the powers of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, expands anti-vilification laws, and more.
  • A $200 million “Rainbow State Fund” for LGBTIQA+ community-led organisations, which will support initiatives and services such as housing, healthcare, and celebratory events.
  • Continuing work with the LGBTIQA+ community to identify further areas of reform, including adoption, assisted reproductive treatment and surrogacy, to make sure that our laws protect everyone. 

Our laws should protect all LGBTIQA+ people from discrimation and harm, across all areas of our lives. We should all feel safe and have equal opportunities in life, no matter our sexuality, gender identity or sex characteristics.

Please refer to our policy announcement here: Greater protections for LGBTIQA+ communities under Greens plan | Australian Greens Victoria

And here’s the Greens’ wider policy regarding LGBTQIA+ issues: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Policy | Australian Greens Victoria

Candidate statement: Rachel Iampolski  – Greens for Caulfield

The following political statement has been supplied by Rachel Iampolski who is running as a candidate for Caulfield District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

Rachel Iampolski
Greens Candidate for Caulfield  

Dear Michael and the Aleph Melbourne community,

I want to begin by thanking you, and the team at Aleph, for your ongoing and tireless efforts in fighting for the rights of the Jewish LGBTIQ+ community, and for taking the time to speak with me. As a progressive, queer, Jewish candidate running in the seat of Caulfield, I recognise that I am standing on the shoulders of giants in doing so, and I take this opportunity very seriously. 

Throughout our conversation, I was really struck by how you described the advocacy work that you have been involved with as ‘taking 20 years to make something look like it happened overnight’. If this doesn’t highlight the hard work and love that is required to gain traction on these issues, I don’t know what does. I find this sentiment strongly resonates, both as a Greens candidate, and a person involved in progressive politics, as so much of the change we have been fighting for is being gradually adopted now, and while this is extremely heartening to see, it is on the back of so much hard work and a long running grassroots movement of action. 

It is also a stern reminder that any attacks against this progress – such as the recent push from the coalition to amend the Equal Opportunity Act is not actually undoing a night’s worth of work, but decades, and as such we need to remain vigilant to any attempts to chip away at the hard-fought for change that we have won. 

This is why the Greens have developed, and continue to develop, a robust Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex policy. We will always be vocal in Parliament and in the public arena against political attacks on LGBTIQ+ safety and freedom. The Greens, more than any other political party, will always advocate for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people of Caulfield and beyond, championing diversity and calling out discrimination, bias, and bigotry. As the first party to support and actively campaign to remove discrimination in marriage, we are so proud of what a strong and united community campaign can do to make positive change. Our elected members of parliament and councils, party members, and candidates such as myself, are committed to stand at the forefront of efforts for equal rights, social acceptance, and human dignity for all. The Greens Party is proud of our strong and active LGBTIQ+ membership who have led the way in developing the detailed statement of policies outlined here: https://greens.org.au/vic/policies/sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-intersex-policy

Yet we have more work to do. With more Greens in parliament, we will push for:

The introduction of comprehensive legislation, including an ‘Equality Bill’ for Victoria with a focus on:

  • Strengthening the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent all faith-based schools and organisations from discriminating against LGBTIQA+ students, staff and services users.
  • Giving the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission stronger powers, including stronger investigatory powers and enforceable determinations
  • Expanding anti-vilification laws to protect LGBTIQA+ people and support victims of hate crimes, including by making vilification and public harassment a crime and legislating to make violence motivated by hate a specific criminal offence
  • Banning deferrable medical interventions on children with intersex characteristics and restrict all sex characteristic altering medical treatment on intersex people without personal consent or oversite from an independent expert panel
  • Protecting the important work of the LGBTIQ+ Communities Commissioner and the LGBTIQ+ Taskforce by enshrining them in legislation 

We are also pledging $200 Million for a ‘Rainbow State Fund’ for LGBTIQA+ community-led organisations, to further fund and support initiatives such as:

  • Community controlled LGBTIQA+ services in key areas of need such as mental health, youth services, homelessness and sexual health
  • Establishing an accommodation facility, with associated support and health services, for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people 
  • Establishing an LGBTIQA+ Community Hub with family services, youth facilities, events, and co-located health services 
  • Investing in additional clinical services for trans, gender diverse and non-binary Victorians
  • Ongoing funding for pride events and festivals around the state
  • Social, psychological and peer support for intersex people and their families
  • Support services for survivors of conversion practices

We are committed to continuing to work closely with the LGBTIQ+ community to ensure that our policies and advocacy work continues to stay relevant and best serve the community.

We hope that part of that ongoing engagement work can be with Aleph Melbourne, and I in particular, if elected, look forward to the opportunity to work more closely with the local queer community and the broader Jewish queer community.  

We applaud the work of Aleph Melbourne, who has for more than 20 years been advocating for and protecting the human rights of Jewish LGBTQI+. I look forward to walking with the Jewish Pride Group at Midsumma. 

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Iampolski

GREENS CANDIDATE FOR CAULFIELD 

rachel.iampolski@vic.greens.org.au
Instagram
Facebook
Website

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Statement from David Zyngier

Aleph Melbourne received the following clarifying statement from Glen Eira Councillor Dr David Zyngier on April 4, 2022, issued in response to the tweet from @StrewthQueen below:

As a member of the Greens I fully support and endorse the non-negotiable rights of all people to their fundamental human rights. I fully support the Greens policy on trans rights. I acknowledge as a cis male there is much that I do not fully understand and am open to being educated about issues that impact and effect our LGBTQI+ community. I look forward to future productive conversations with members of the LGBTQI+ community and especially those members of the Greens who identify as trans. If there are transphobic or trans exclusionary members of the Greens, they do not represent Green values or mine.

Candidate statement: David Zyngier Greens for Camden Ward – Glen Eira Council

The following political statement has been supplied by David Zyngier who is running as a candidate for Camden Ward – Glen Eira Council in the 2020 Local Government elections.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

David Zyngier, Greens candidate for Camden Ward, Glen Eira Council: Supporting our LGBTIQ+ Community.

I am running for elections for Camden Ward in the forthcoming Glen Eira Council elections and will be an advocate for the LGBTIQ+ community in Glen Eira. I am requesting the support of Aleph and its members.

Beginning with my university days at Monash in the 1970s, I have been an advocate for the equal rights of LGBTIQ+ people and for members of the Jewish LGBTIQ+ community in particular.

As far back as 1999, I wrote a letter of support for Aleph Melbourne which was published in the Australian Jewish News (and featured on Aleph website). I condemned the Jewish Community Council of Victoria’s bigoted behaviour in rejecting the membership of Aleph Melbourne. I wrote at that time:

“In a momentous and shameful vote of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, on Monday 10 May, the Jewish gay support group, Aleph was refused membership of the JCCV. It has been only a generation since Jews and homosexuals were forced to wear badges of coloured cloth – how quickly we seem to forget that we are inseparably linked by a very common but tragic history. … I can only say how ashamed I feel to be part of such a community that has turned its back on our fellow Jews.”

Twenty years later, in 2019, I was contacted by Aleph Melbourne to support their efforts to right this wrong. I worked together with Aleph Melbourne to write and facilitate a formal public apology from the JCCV. This was a bittersweet victory – yes, an apology had been received, but only after two decades of struggle by the LGBTQI+ community and its allies.

In my role as an advocate for public education, I led a campaign together with Fairness in Religious Education (FIRIS) to remove the bigoted and homophobic Special Religious Education program from our public primary schools. I have been a strong and loud public advocate of the Safe School Program. I have joined the call for the scrapping of the federally funded School Chaplains Program. Along with other activists, I have called for those funds to be invested in secular, unbiased and inclusive support for students through counsellors and through antibullying initiatives such as the Safe Schools Program.

The Greens, more than any other political party, will always advocate for the rights of LGBTIQ+ residents in Glen Eira and beyond, championing diversity and calling out discrimination, bias, and bigotry. As the first party to support and actively campaign to remove discrimination in marriage, we are so proud of what a strong and united community campaign can do to make positive change.

Yet, we recognise that there is so much more to be done. Our MPs, councillors, and members are committed to stand at the forefront of efforts for equal rights, social acceptance, and human dignity for all.

The Greens Party is proud of our strong and active LGBTIQ+ membership who have led the way in developing the detailed statement of policies outlined here, https://greens.org.au/vic/policies/sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-intersex-policy

Authorised by M. Shields 1/45 William St. Melbourne Vic 3000

Macnamara Candidates Forum – Question on Discrimination in Religious Schools – April 7 2019

Macnamara Candidates Forum – 2019 Federal Election – Question on discrimination in religious schools

Great Debate Macnamara 2019 banner

The Great Debate: Macnamara (at Glen Eira Town Hall)

AUJS and the AZYC, in partnership with the Australian Jewish News, are proud to present The Great Debate for the federal seat of Macnamara.
In the lead up to the federal election, it is vitally important for our community to ask questions and receive answers about the most pressing issues concerning us. This year, we’re giving YOU the power to ask those most burning questions on your mind. We’re opening up submissions now, so click here to submit your questions.
Venue will be announced closer to the date.
Confirmed to attend are:
Josh Burns (Labor)
Kate Ashmor (Liberal)
Steph Hodgins May (Greens)
This event is open to members of our community of all ages. We’re looking forward to stimulating debate and thoughtful dialogue!

Question by Michael Barnett:

“What is your party doing to ensure that all students, and also all teachers and other staff members, at religious schools are fully protected from both direct and indirect discrimination on the basis of their gender identity, sexual orientation, or intersex status?”

Listen to the question followed by responses from Steph Hodgins-May (Greens) @ 1:10, Josh Burns (ALP) @ 2:19, and Kate Ashmor (Liberal) @ 3:47:

Live-blogging via Galus Australis Community:

Al M Fein Michael Barnett asking a question about religious discrimination against LGBTQI people.

Hannah Aroni Next qu: what is your party doing to ensure all students and teachers at religious schools are protected from direct and indirect discrimination re their gender, sexuality or intersex status

Al M Fein People in the audience are talking and giggling. How gross. But good applause.

Hannah Aroni Clarifying this is about uniforms, bathrooms, discrimination re parents, hiding relationships or identity, being forced to attend religious ceremonies w hurtful statements

Al M Fein Steph Hodgins May talking about support for Safe School and oppose religious based discrimination.

Al M Fein Talking more about funding mental health.

Al M Fein Huge applause.

Hannah Aroni Steph noting Greens are long time advocates of safe schools and oppose teacher exemptions from protection against discrimination. Also coming back to mental health funding and hoping to continue working w schools and community to keep kids safe. Big youth applause on that!

Al M Fein Josh Burns talking about most of the Jewish schools making statements condemning homophobia.

Hannah Aroni Josh referencing statements from many specific Jewish schools re not wanting the power to discriminate, saying he’s happy about that, saying we shouldn’t be able to discriminate against students or staff.

Al M Fein Josh sinking the boot into Scomo for bringing religious based discrimination back – funding a Pride Centre in St Kilda

Al M Fein Kate Ashmor talking about being in the Midsumma Pride rally.

Hannah Aroni Josh saying last year the PM sent kids home after reversing onthis issue. Says people should imagine kids going home for summer thinking about that. Noting in this electorate 82% voted for marriage equality, noted Labor commitment to building Pride Centre in St K

Al M Fein And Kate says she voted ‘yes’ in the marriage equality debate BUT she’s saying that she will ensure freedom of religion – and institutionalised homophobia.

Al M Fein Talking about funding in the budget for mental health – to applause.

Hannah Aroni Kate saying she voted yes bc as a Lib she supports freedom and human rights. But saying freedom of religion is a cornerstone of the comm and that parents should be able to choose the values taught in schools and saying she will be a strong voice for that. Saying she was happy w the 720 mil funding and 30 new headspace centres, 4 new ED clinics

Hannah Aroni Being pulled back on this to topic by the moderator. Moderator correcting Kate – Kate tried to claim changes to law didn’t pass parliament bc labor refused, Mod says no, this was bc Libs refused to pas Lab changes

Hannah Aroni Kate saying she supports law to protect students, but stands w the PM re teachers and is … wow how do I do justice to this

Al M Fein More men yelling over women.

Hannah Aroni She’s going on about not being a typical pollie and the crowd thinks she’s full of shit, and Josh has pushed back to say this shows where she stands on the issue

Al M Fein Josh just put Kate back in her box after she claimed that she was talking shit because she is not a ‘staffer’

Hannah Aroni Next qu is about pill testing and harm reduction re drug users