Equality Welcomes Election Result

Media release – Equality Tasmania, 22 May 2022

Election Result Welcomed

“The message from this election is that Tasmanian want fairness not discrimination, inclusion not prejudice.” – Rodney Croome.

Equality Tasmania has hailed the election result as a victory of fairness over discrimination.

The group has welcomed increased votes for candidates who opposed the Religious Discrimination Bill and the defeat of candidates who championed transgender exclusion.

Spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“Many Tasmanians will breath a sigh of relief that Scott Morrison’s Religious Discrimination Bill, which would have overridden and weakened Tasmania’s gold-standard Anti-Discrimination Act, is now off the table with the election of a Labor Government.”

“The increased vote for Bridget Archer in Bass, despite an Australian Christian Lobby campaign against her triggered by her opposition to the Religious Discrimination Bill, shows that Tasmanians reject the politics of division and discrimination.”

“We urge Senator Claire Chandler to drop her Bill excluding transgender women from women’s sport following the thumping defeat of Katherine Deves who championed the same cause as a candidate in the Sydney seat of Warringah.”

“Many transgender Tasmanians and their allies will also welcome the success of transgender woman, and sports inclusion advocate, Jade Darko, who increased the Greens’ vote in Franklin, showing many Tasmanians welcome the opportunity to vote for transgender candidates.”

Mr Croome said the defeat of Senator Eric Abetz will also be welcomed by many LGBTIQA+ people across the nation.

“Senator Abetz was a strident opponent of every step towards LGBTIQA+ equality and we welcome the election of Tammy Tyrrell, a supporter of the LGBTIQA+ community, to take his place.”

“The message from this election is that Tasmanians want fairness not discrimination, inclusion not prejudice.”

“Equality Tasmania will take that message to state and federal governments in the hope of removing continued discrimination against LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians.”