Ministerial Statement

Sexual Orientation Discrimination

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:04): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Governments should support the greatest possible engagement in society for all members of our community; that is, they should govern for all people. The fact remains that some individuals and families are not able to participate fully in our community because they are who they are, whether that be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer.

At the opening of parliament this year, the Governor outlined this government's plans to improve our democracy in a range of ways, including the removal of the last vestiges of discrimination on our statute books. To lead to this end, earlier this year we asked the South Australian Law Reform Institute to review our laws and identify legislation that discriminates against these members of our community. The institute has identified areas where immediate action can be taken, and other areas that require further consideration. The government has now received the institute's report on those matters for which immediate action can be taken. It can be found at the Law Reform Institute website.

I am pleased to inform the house that I will have an omnibus bill drafted for the parliament to consider that will remove elements from up to 14 pieces of legislation that discriminate against members of our community to identify as LGBTIQ. Parliament will also be given the opportunity to consider the second part of the South Australian Law Reform Institute report once it is received in the first half of next year.

This legislation will remove aspects of existing laws that are outdated and discriminatory. For instance, a person who identifies as a woman but is not legally recorded as such may be prevented from taking a position on a government board because they are not recognised as a woman under relevant legislation. Other pieces of legislation, like the Wills Act, discriminate by treating married couples differently from those couples or individuals who are not or who cannot be married, including LGBTIQ South Australians.

I can think of no better time to start this work of removing discrimination than right now, as we enter a month-long festival of 14 events to mark the 40^th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. It was pleasing that earlier today this parliament was able to come together to recognise the efforts of a previous generation to end this discrimination. The South Australian Law Reform Institute's report gives this generation the opportunity to remove the last vestiges of discrimination from our statute books.