Tas Liberal leader challenged to rule out election hate / Libs have moral responsibility to vulnerable people

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 24.1.09.

Human rights activists have challenged Tasmanian Liberal leader, Will Hodgman, to rule out attacks on minorities in the lead up to the next state election.

Yesterday, the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal ruled that a Liberal Party 2006 state election pamphlet which declared same-sex marriage "socially destructive" does not violate the state's incitement-to-hatred laws.

But the woman behind the case, Ms Martine Delaney, said that the Liberal Party still has a moral responsibility not to stir up prejudice and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

"This is not about elections, parties or even policies, it's about people, and the disastrous impact official prejudice has on their everyday lives", Ms Delaney said.

"We call on Mr Hodgman as state Liberal leader to pledge in writing that in the lead up to the next election his party will not incite prejudice, discrimination or hatred against some of Tasmania's most vulnerable people."

Ms Delaney has also taken cases against 2006 state election materials authorised by members of the Exclusive Brethren and 2007 federal election materials authorised by the Liberal Party and Timber Communities Australia, all of which she alleges incited hatred.

The next state election is expected to be held early next year.

For more information contact Martine Delaney on 0417 530 621.