We're writing with a quick update on the anti-discrimination bill you fought to strengthen, a bill that would have brought greater equality under the law to all Australians.
Unfortunately, despite a large number of champions both within and outside of Parliament (including more than 34,000 GetUp member actions), many of the reforms have been shelved. With just a few weeks of Parliament remaining this year, new Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says the laws need further work, and likely won't be introduced before the election.
But it isn't all bad news. Just today an amendment to the Sex Discrimination Act that would include gender identity and sexual orientation was tabled - a reform GetUp members fought for this year, that now enjoys bi-partisan support. Hundreds of thousands of Australians will benefit. It means that for the first time, gay, lesbian, transgender and intersex Australians will be protected in law from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, in the same way that our gender and race are currently protected.
Anti-discrimination laws still need our support. There's much more to do: we still won't see an end to legally endorsed discrimination by religious groups, nor discrimination against victims of domestic violence, which disproportionately affects women.
If we're going to get those reforms, the reaction MPs hear to today's news matters. Will nobody notice? Or, next time an opportunity to realise further equality comes up, will the champions of anti-discrimination be able to point to thousands of emails, hand-written letters and phone calls both sides of politics received this week?
Please take a moment now to email your local MP, encouraging them to go further on anti-discrimination: http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/anti-discrimination/we-expect-better/update-on-equality
Thanks for all that you do,
The GetUp team
PS - A big thanks to all the organisations who have and will continue to work hard pushing for these reforms. people like the Human Rights Law Centre, the Gay and Lesbian Right Lobby of NSW and Victoria, Organisation Intersex International Australia, the Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse and the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you'd like to contribute to help fund GetUp's work, please donate now!
