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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-11-29 Daily Xml
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Qatar

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (15:25): I am a proud unionist and proud ally of the queer community, and I stand here today to condemn Qatar for its treatment of workers and the rainbow community; it is shameful. I am also a soccer player and a fan of the world game, and that is why I am speaking out today.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in article 2 details the right of everyone to enjoy all rights and freedoms without distinction—that is, no discrimination in society and no discrimination at work. More than 6,500 migrant workers have died building the World Cup stadiums in Qatar, a nation where you can be imprisoned for up to seven years for being homosexual. Last month, human rights organisations documented cases in which security forces arrested LGBT individuals in public places based solely on their gender expression and searched their phones. They also said it was mandatory for transgender women detainees to attend conversion therapy sessions as a requirement for their release.

An investigation by Rolling Stone magazine found stadium workers were subjected to 'captive and controllable' conditions as Qatar's government and FIFA shielded 'forced labour' under the veneer of reform, where migrant workers in stadiums worked 14-hour days in 52-degree heat while suffering full-body sweats with spells of vomiting and heart palpitations to build air conditioners for open soccer stadiums and earned $8,000 for just three years.

Fifty years ago in Adelaide, Dr George Duncan was drowned in the River Torrens, allegedly by police, for being gay. However, actions like these are acceptable in some nations still today and queer rights in Qatar are very limited. This is unacceptable and needs to be called out because there are Qatari citizens who are gay, there are Muslims who are gay and there are footballers who are gay.

Australia has come a long way. South Australia was the first state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1975 and the queer community has many rights. However, we are also not perfect. Our queer community is not always safe, respected and protected. Our queer people can live a life generally free of discrimination by the police, legal system and our general community. We do, as a community, need to take some serious action in relation to LGBTQIA+ mental health, self-harm, suicide, and domestic and family violence.

I am pleased to see players, fans and sporting teams across the world showing their support, including the Norwegian, German and Danish national teams. It is shameful that FIFA banned 10 team captains from simply wearing One Love armbands in their support of Qatari citizens. I am pleased to see the Socceroos become the first FIFA World Cup team to collectively speak up on human rights issues in Qatar.

In a powerful video, 16 Australian players expressed their solidarity with migrant workers and LGBT people, making it clear that 'universal values like dignity, trust, respect and courage should define football values'. Go the Socceroos. I also congratulate Adelaide United's Josh Cavallo and English international Jordan Henderson MBE on their work and advocacy, plus Scotland's Zander Murray and Blackpool's Jack Daniels. I thank the BBC and SBS for highlighting the truth in Qatar and call out Tim Cahill and David Beckham for their silence.

FIFA needs reform to bring its officials into an age where sport is for everyone, free from discrimination, corruption, sportswashing and the endorsement of human rights violations. I urge Australia and other football nations to continue to pressure FIFA to change. I believe we all want to see a world of peace, kindness and dignity where people are safe and free; however, until we achieve that I wish the Socceroos well and hope that other sports clubs can be as accepting as Adelaide United. After a brilliant match against Tunisia, I wish the Socceroos all the best in their match against Denmark this week.

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