AUSTRALIAN ISSUES

The Department of Health estimates that 11% of the Australian population have a diverse sexual orientation, sex or gender identity. This means that in the City of Busselton there may be around 4,500 LGBTQIA+ people  - and more than one out of every ten tourists!

Sadly due to a range of factors, all people living in regional areas have higher rates of illness and death than those living in capital cities, and LGBTQIA+ people living in regional WA face additional unique factors in accessing health care and services, making social connections, and maintaining their well-being.

• LGBTQIA+ people living in rural and regional areas are less likely to be open about their sexual orientation or gender identity, due to fears of discrimination and privacy concerns.

• Regional towns offers fewer services that have actively taken steps to education and train staff on issues relating to the LGBTQIA+ community.

• Many LGBTQIA+ individuals rely on word of mouth of other LGBTQIA+ people for recommendations and feedback on whether venues and businesses are "safe" or not, and without being able to establish strong social connections between LGBTQIA+ people, many simply do not engage with businesses, services, community groups and health care.

• A lack of access to specialised medical services, such as gender affirming care, leaves many LGBQTIA+ people with higher health care and travel costs, if they are able to access those services at all. 

Unfortunately in many areas of law, Western Australia is far behind the other States in removing discriminatory laws and adding required protections for LGBTQIA+ people.

• Hate Speech laws in WA apply only to race. These laws need to be updated to include other areas including sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.

• Conversion Practices remain legal in WA, falsely claiming to be able to change LGBTQIA+ people’s identity or feelings. Both the Australian Medical Association and Australian Psychological Society have condemned Conversion Practices as harmful and dangerous, and these practices must be banned - in both formal settings such as by professional counsellors and in informal settings such as religious groups.

• Inclusive Education WA (the rebranded Safe Schools program) had its funding ceased from October 2020. This means there is currently no program to provide training, resources and curriculum support for school staff, psychologists and parents to better understand the needs of LGBTQIA+ students in WA. 

• "Special Religious Exemptions" remain under WA laws (1984 Equal Opportunity Act) which allow religious organisations to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people and their families by refuses services, declining enrolment or employment applications and expelling students or firing staff. This includes where services are publicly funded - such as emergency services, homelessness support, youth programs, health care services and schools.   

• Intersex people (individuals with unique variations in chromosomes, hormones, reproductive or sex anatomy) continue subject to non-consensual surgery and medical procedures in WA. 

The McGowan and Cook Labor Governments have made various announcements regarding  issues, but despite being in power for three consecutive terms and having a majority in both houses, these issues remained with no clear time frame on if / when they will be addressed.

Currently in Australia, religious institutions still hold a license to discriminate against people in religious schools and faith based services.

When in government last, the Federal LNP drafted a "Religious Discrimination Bill" to give even more rights to large religious organisations, to the detriment of minorities including LGBTQIA+ people, woman, minority faith communities, and disabled people. This included removing current protections from discrimination and allowing employers, health care professionals and other service providers to make any offensive statement that is "based on religious beliefs"; giving medical professionals the right to refuse treatment based on religious views; and allowing organisations to restrict access to publicly funded services to only those whose religious beliefs they agree with.

When Labor took power, they committed to bringing their own "Religious Discrimination Bill" while also committing to amending the Sex Discrimination Act to strengthen protections for LGBTQ students. This ABC report gives an overview of the progress of this promise.