Anti-discrimination law urged for Tasmania
By Natasha Simons
HOBART — The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group has renewed its call on the state government to introduce anti-discrimination legislation in the light of a poll conducted by the Tasmanian Council of Social Services.
The poll shows over 70% support in the state for legislation to protect homosexual people from discrimination in employment, housing and the provision of goods and services.
Tasmania is the only state without anti-discrimination laws, and the Liberal government refuses to introduce legislation despite support for it from its own Anti-Discrimination Committee.
"The premier says that legislation will not stop discrimination", says TGLRG spokesperson Rodney Croome, "but the fact is that it will send out an important message that discrimination is unacceptable, as well as providing recourse for people who are unfairly treated".
Croome said that discrimination against gay and lesbian people is widespread. "A recently released gay community poll from Victoria shows that 46% of lesbians and gay men in that state had experienced some form of harassment or discrimination in employment, including loss of jobs. I expect the proportion would be higher in Tasmania."
Meanwhile, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in San Francisco is circulating a petition to the Tasmanian government, urging it to repeal Articles 122 a & c and 123 of the Criminal Code, which attach "a criminal stigma to the social, cultural and political activities of the Tasmanian gay and lesbian community, and sanction discrimination and violence towards that community".