ALL LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, INTERSEX AND QUEER (LGBTIQ+) PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, HAVE AUTONOMY OVER THEIR BODIES, AND ACCESS TO HOLISTIC AND COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES. THE GREENS WILL SUPPORT LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENSURE THEY ARE TREATED EQUALLY AND FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION.
The Greens will:
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Establish a $70mil grants scheme for LGBTIQ+ community organisations to self organise and advocate
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Provide funding for research and data collection.
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Ensure adequate and appropriate training for departmental staff so they are equipped to appropriately assess applications from LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum.
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Ensure the needs of diverse families are met in Family Violence primary prevention.
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Invest in community organisations and fight for reforms that benefit transgender and gender diverse, intersex and bi+ people and their families
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Take action to end HIV/AIDS
ESTABLISH A $70MIL GRANTS SCHEME FOR LGBTIQ+ COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS TO SELF ORGANISE AND ADVOCATE
Community organisations do vital work investing in the the wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people and their families, celebrating LGBTIQ+ culture and advocating for LGBTIQ+ rights. The Greens will establish a grants scheme that would enable funding of community organisations. There will be dedicated funding available to intersex organisations; LGBTIQ+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations; organisations working to fill the current gaps in data collection and research into LGBTIQ+ communities; advocacy organisations; organisations supporting rainbow families, and organisations supporting the resettlement of LGBTIQ+ refugees in Australia.
FUND DATA COLLECTION AND RESEARCH INTO LGBTIQ+ COMMUNITIES.
Although we know that LGBTIQ+ Australians lead diverse lives, come from a range of backgrounds and experience unique social and health challenges, currently there is a distinct lack of research into LGBTIQ+ communities and their families. Current and accurate data is necessary in order to ensure services are meeting the needs of these diverse populations. The Greens will ensure that organisations working to fill current gaps in research, evaluation and data collection have access to funding through the $70mil LGBTIQ+ grants scheme.
ENSURE ADEQUATE AND APPROPRIATE TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENTAL STAFF SO THEY ARE EQUIPPED TO APPROPRIATELY ASSESS APPLICATIONS FROM LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM
There are many reports of applications for people seeking asylum based on LGBTIQ+ persecution being rejected because decision-makers don’t believe the applicant. There are cases of rejection on the grounds that applicants didn’t look or act in line with stereotypes associated with their sexuality; they couldn’t name western gay ‘icons’; they had been married or had children; or they didn’t frequent gay clubs.
False assumptions of how an LGBTIQ+ person ‘should’ behave or the knowledge an applicant ‘should’ have about western LGBTIQ+ culture should have no influence over an applicants success. The Greens will ensure adequate and appropriate training for departmental staff so they are equipped to appropriately assess applications from LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum. The Greens will also ensure adequate training and guidelines for the refugee review tribunal.
ENSURE THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE FAMILIES ARE MET IN FAMILY VIOLENCE PRIMARY PREVENTION.
The Greens plan to prevent family violence includes funding for crisis and temporary housing services, and would also be responsive to the particular needs of LGBTIQ+ people. The Greens’ plan would provide dedicated, secure, long-term funding for specialist family and domestic violence services across the country to deliver outreach, crisis response, crisis accommodation, legal support, advocacy and post-crisis support to people who need it.
Transgender and Gender Diverse
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TRANSGENDER AND GENDER DIVERSE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS
We recognise the importance and benefits of peer support for transgender, gender diverse and non-binary people and their families. Through the $70mil LGBTIQ+ grants program, the Greens will invest in trans-led peer support organisations to run in-person and online peer support programs so that no transgender or gender diverse person or their families need to feel like they are alone.
ESTABLISH A TRANS ADVISORY BOARD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
It is vital that the government engage with and better understand the needs of transgender and gender diverse people. In addition to ensuring transgender representation on the LGBTIQ ministerial advisory board to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Greens will establish a transgender advisory board to the Department of Health. This board will advise on best practice and work with the Department to ensure that Australia’s health system maintains the human rights and dignity of all transgender and gender diverse people.
ESTABLISH A $3M GRANTS PROGRAM FOR TRANS-SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
Transgender and gender diverse Australians experience higher levels of anxiety, depression and self harm compared to the general population. This is especially present in young trans and gender diverse people. In one study, 60.1% of trans young people surveyed stated they have experienced feeling isolated from medical and mental health services, and 42.1% of participants have reached out to a service provider who did not understand, respect or have previous experience with gender diverse people. The Greens will establish a $3mil grants program for organisations working on trans-specific mental health, to create services where they don’t currently exist, and expand services that are unable to meet current demand.
INVEST IN TRANS-SPECIFIC HEALTH INITIATIVES
We acknowledge the diverse healthcare needs of transgender and gender diverse people. The Greens will invest $1.7 million in the LGBTI Health Alliance and its partner organisations to facilitate health programs and initiatives that will benefit trans and gender diverse people in Australia. These programs will include training for medical professionals, so they can offer improved care pathways to trans and gender diverse patients.
We acknowledge the importance of accessing client-centred, high standards of healthcare regardless of whether you live in an urban centre or a regional town. We will ensure that these programs have a regional focus and will invest a further $600,000 in funding for programs that prioritise First Nations transgender and gender diverse people.
ESTABLISH A COMPLAINTS BODY FOR MEDICAL DECISIONS
Transgender and gender diverse people are best placed to determine their own transition pathways, which may include gender-affirming medical treatments such as hormones and surgical interventions. Under the current healthcare model, gender-affirming treatments are approved at the discretion of medical professionals which can lead to transgender, gender diverse and intersex people being unfairly denied the right to access these treatments.
The Greens will provide a way to appeal these determinations by ensuring that all people can access a dedicated complaints body to review medical decisions regarding gender-affirming treatments and surgeries.
LEGISLATE FOR ALL-GENDER TOILETS IN THE WORKPLACE
Everyone should have access to a bathroom that aligns with their gender identity, and no transgender or gender diverse person should be forced to put up with the gender dysphoria, discomfort or risks to safety that can occur because of lack of access. We will introduce legislation to ensure Australian workplaces provide a minimum number of all-gender toilets for their employees. This legislation will ensure that trans and gender diverse people can access safe and inclusive bathrooms.
Intersex
ENSURE THE RIGHT TO BODILY INTEGRITY IS PROTECTED IN LAW
No one’s body should be stigmatised, and the rights of people with variations of sex characteristics must be upheld. Intersex people have the right to bodily integrity, including personal consent to medical or surgical interventions.
The Greens will ensure that the rights of intersex people are protected in law by requiring fully informed personal consent before any deferrable medical interventions that alter sex characteristics can be performed.
FUND VITAL PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS
We recognise the importance and benefits of affirmative peer support for people born with variations of sex characteristics and their families. Through the $76mil LGBTIQ+ grants program, the Greens will invest in intersex-led peer support organisations to run in-person and online peer support programs so that no intersex person or their families need to feel like they are alone.
APPOINT INTERSEX ADSVISORY BOARDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT
It is vital that the government engage with and better understand the needs of people with variations of sex characteristics. In addition to ensuring intersex representation on the LGBTIQ ministerial advisory board to the department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, The Greens will establish intersex advisory boards to the Department of Health and the Attorney General’s’ department. These advisory boards will advise on best practice and work with the departments to ensure that Australia’s health system is reformed and that the human rights and dignity of all intersex people is upheld.
These boards will consist of ethicists, human rights experts, specialist clinicians, and intersex community members with lived experience.
SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE ADVOCACY
The Greens understand the importance of systemic advocacy and recognise the vital work of Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA). Through the $70mil LGBTIQ+ grants scheme, The Greens will provide dedicated funding to intersex organisations to ensure the sustainability of their work advocating for the human rights of intersex people, improving policy, educating the public and private sector and providing legal support to people with intersex variations and their families.
FORMALLY APOLOGISE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERGONE FORCED OR COERCIVE MEDICAL PRACTICES
The Greens recognise the lifelong trauma caused to intersex people who have undergone forced or coercive medical interventions, in particular those inflicted on intersex infants, children and adolescents. These so-called ‘normalising’ procedures are a violation of human rights and have devastating and lasting physical and psychological impacts on the lives of intersex people. In addition to ensuring the rights of intersex people are protected in law, the Greens will ensure that those people born with variations in sex characteristics who have been subjected to non-emergency invasive and irreversible medical interventions are formally apologised to. We will consult with the intersex community to ensure that an apology is meaningful and specific to those affected.
ESTABLISH A NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERGONE FORCED OR COERCIVE MEDICAL PRACTICES
In addition to formally apologising to individuals who have undergone forced or coercive medical practices, the Greens will establish a national redress scheme to provide access to restorative justice and compensation. Compensation measures may include monetary compensation as well as vital access to medical, psychological and reparative treatments and services. We will consider current redress schemes and fund evidence-based research to determine the scope of an appropriate redress model. We will also work with the intersex community to ensure that a redress scheme appropriately meets the needs of those intersex individuals affected.
Bi+
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR BI+ PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS
We recognise the importance and benefits of peer support for bisexual and pansexual people. Through the $70mil LGBTIQ+ grants program, the Greens will invest in bi+ peer support organisations to run in-person and online peer support programs and community events to help bi+ Australians navigate their experiences individually and as a community.
ESTABLISH STRONG BI+ REPRESENTATION IN THE LGBTIQ+ MINISTERIAL ADVISORY GROUP
It is vital that the government engage with and better understand the needs of bi+ people. The Greens will ensure strong bi+ representation in the LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Group. This group will advise on best practice and work with departments to ensure that decisions affecting LGBTIQ+ communities are inclusive of bi+ people.
INVEST $3MIL IN FUNDING FOR BISEXUAL-SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Bi+ people have consistently been found to experience poor mental health and psychological distress at rates that are disproportionate to the general population. The Greens recognise that the mental health issues facing bi+ people are distinct from those facing LGTIQ+ communities.
The Greens will establish a $3mil grants program for organisations working on bi+ mental health, to create services where they don’t currently exist, and to improve the quality of existing services across the country.
INVEST IN A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE BIPHOBIA IN THE COMMUNITY
We recognise that there is a critical lack of understanding of bisexuality in Australia and that Bi+ people face unique challenges and stigma. Urgent funding is needed to eliminate harmful stereotypes and biphobia wherever it exists, including in schools, workplaces, LGBTIQ+ organisations, in the health system, and in the media.
The Greens will invest $500,000 a year in a public education campaign to raise awareness of bisexuality and to promote greater understanding, acceptance and celebration of bi+ Australians in both mainstream and LGBTIQ+ communities.
IMPROVE ACCESS TO FAMILY AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SERVICES FOR BI+ PEOPLE
We recognise that Bi+ people, especially Bi+ women, experience high rates of family violence and intimate partner violence, but are less likely to find support services that meet their specific needs.
The Greens plan to prevent family violence includes funding for crisis and temporary housing services, and would also be responsive to the particular needs of LGBTIQ+ people. The Greens’ plan would provide dedicated, secure, long-term funding for specialist family and domestic violence services across the country to deliver outreach, crisis response, crisis accommodation, legal support, advocacy and post-crisis support to people who need it.
FUND RESEARCH INTO THE BI+ COMMUNITY
Although we know that bi+ Australians lead diverse lives, come from a range of backgrounds and experience unique social and health challenges, limited research exists into the bi+ community. The Greens will ensure that organisations working to fill current gaps in research, evaluation and data collection have access to funding through the $70mil LGBTIQ+ grants scheme.
Eradicating HIV/AIDS
IMPLEMENT THE NATIONAL STRATEGIES AND STRENGTHEN AUSTRALIA’S RESPONSE TO HIV
While there are current strategies on HIV, STIs, Hepatitis B and C and specific strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Blood-borne viruses and STI strategies, these policies have not been followed through or implemented. The Australian Greens will work to ensure that these are implemented and funded.
The Greens fully support the enduring principles of partnership, harm reduction and non-partisanship. In addition, the Greens believe in a strong and effective civil society, and recognise that the community based and peer-led work of AFAO, NAPHWA and their partners is crucial in ensuring the fight to eliminate HIV maintains momentum and focus.
We need a national response to eradicating HIV, and specialist organisations must be well funded to do the work. The Greens will invest $10m a year into organisations that work on prevention, testing and treatment campaigns, peer support, education and community outreach, planning and service re-development.
The Greens know that particular populations are at risk of being left behind, including people with unsuspected HIV, late HIV presenters and those who are not being treated. Because these groups are unlikely to be receptive to awareness and media campaigns that are targeted at more engaged populations, we will commit $3 million per year to develop these campaigns.
WORK TO ENSURE ALL AUSTRALIANS HAVE ACCESS TO TREATMENT
Recently released national data highlighted a 33% increase in new HIV diagnosis rates among First Nations peoples. In the same period, newly diagnosed HIV rates among Australian-born non-Indigenous people decreased by 22%. The Greens will work to ensure that we have a plan to implement and sustain a response to HIV and STIs among this population in response to these alarming rates.
The Greens will invest $15m a year to help close this health gap and ensure the needs of all First Nations peoples, including brotherboys, sistergirls and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are met in public health prevention efforts and service provision. We will include requirements in this funding allocation to ensure that this funding is culturally appropriate for and community controlled by First Nations peoples.
The Greens will also commit $1.75 million per year to develop evidence-informed and long-term community-led campaigns to reduce the incidence of STIs.
The Greens recognise the importance of rapid HIV testing and note the recent development of effective tests in this area. While we strongly support the independence of the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) process, we would in principle support MBS listing of self testing if recommended by MSAC.
People who are ineligible to access Medicare face a wide range of challenges to accessing healthcare in Australia. This is particularly problematic for people who are unable to access HIV treatment and PrEP, because of the risks to both themselves and the broader population who are placed at risk through people not being protected. The Greens would support the development and implementation of a sustainable model of access to HIV treatment and PrEP for people in this situation.
Another barrier for accessing HIV treatment for Australians is the number of clinicians who are able to prescribe HIV treatment and a paucity of clinical training and support in this area. The Australian Greens would work to overcome this problem by working with the medical and health sector to understand what the unmet needs in this area are and to ensure they are adequately supported for this.
Ensure that researchers are able to continue to progress the knowledge base around HIV and other blood borne viruses, including community surveillance
It is clear that the rise in infectious diseases, including HIV and blood-borne viruses in Australia and around the world warrants prioritisation by Australia’s medical research bodies. The Greens would ensure these infections are prioritised by the NHMRC and MRFF.
We would also work with the research community and the Department of Health to ensure that appropriately de-identified PBS data is made available to enable comprehensive observation of PrEP initiation and patterns of use across Australia. To ensure that the community sector has adequate support to undertake high quality and timely HIV surveillance across the nation, we would provide $400 000 per annum to the community sector.
CHALLENGE STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
The Greens will commit an additional $1m a year into specific communications and campaigns that break down stigma and discrimination, encourage safer sex and encourage early testing.
Regulatory and legal changes are also required to ensure that there is uniformity across states and territories, and to ensure best practice science in regulation and practice. We would pursue these objectives through:
Directing the Australian Law Reform Commission to report on options to increase uniformity between state and territory laws on HIV, given developments in HIV prevention science
Implementing the Australian Red Cross Blood Service’s recommendations to reduce the sexual activity deferral period. The Greens believe that the recommendation of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to reduce the period of deferral for men who have had recent sex with another man (MSM) from 12 to six months should be adopted by the TGA. The Greens believe the maintenance of this restriction contravenes the available evidence and represents unnecessary discrimination.
ENSURE OTHER COUNTRIES IN OUR REGION ARE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION TO FIGHT AIDS AND OTHER KEY ILLNESSES AND THAT LGBTIQ+ ORGANISATIONS ARE SUPPORTED
The Greens recognise Australia’s role in our region in providing support and funding to regional responses to HIV and for maintaining strong and effective partnerships between community organisations in Australia and amongst our neighbours. The Greens would restore the funding to these crucial programs to ensure that the fight to eliminate HIV can continue in the region.
The Greens understand the role of Australia in sending a clear message to the world and our region that funding to eliminate HIV should be prioritised, through contributing to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. And we recognise that Australia’s contribution to the Global Fund is critical, with the Fund providing US$15 for every US dollar committed by Australia, totalling US$2.9 billion from 2014- 2016. The Greens will commit $300 million over the next three years from Australia’s development budget to set a strong example and ensure the Fund can continue its work in a sustainable and consistent way. We would allocate $15 million of this over three years specifically for strengthened community responses to HIV in Asia and the Pacific.
As a world leader in the HIV/AIDS prevention space, Australia has an important role to play in global leadership on this issue. The Australian Greens will commit to Australia playing a leading role in the 2021 United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS, including support for participation by people living with HIV/AIDS and civil society in the meeting, and in the negotiation of an updated UN Declaration of Commitment to Ending HIV.
To practically support this commitment, we will also support the establishment of a network of LGBTIQ+ organisations, development agencies, human rights organisations, philanthropy and academia to promote and protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people regionally and across the globe through an investment of $200 000 per annum.
