Libs fail to sign election anti-hate pledge / Delaney vows to challenge any election hate materials

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 31.7.10.

For downloadable photos from pledge signing visit:
http://news.webshots.com/album/578289497oFfrdC

The Liberal Party has again failed to sign a pledge against election hate, despite all other major parties and independents signing the pledge today at Salamanca Market in Hobart.

Today's pledge signing was a response to election advertising authorised by the Liberal Party and members of the Exclusive Brethren during the 2006 state election, and the Liberal Party and Timber Communities Australia during the 2007 federal election, which vehemently attacked the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people.

Human rights campaigner, Martine Delaney, who has challenged anti-GLBTI election material before the State Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, securing apologies from members of the Exclusive Brethren and from Timber Communities Australia, said the pledge is designed to set a higher standard for electioneering.

"By showing that a wide range of parties and independents oppose hatred in election campaigns I hope we can bring an end to the kind of electioneering that inflames prejudice against people who already have a hard enough time of it", she said.

"The Liberal Party has never committed to signing the pledge, and it is deeply disappointing that this election will be no exception."

"I profoundly hope there will be no material published during this election that hatefully attacks GLBTI people and our human rights, but if there is, I will challenge it before the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal just as I have in the past", Ms Delaney said.

The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group's anti-hate pledge was signed by Christine Milne for the Australian Greens, Jonathan Jackson for the ALP, Andrew Wilkie (Indep) and Mel Barnes for the Socialist Alliance. The Australian Democrats, who registered after the pledge was printed, signed a pledge which not only commits the party not to authourise hateful material but to enact stronger laws to combat incitement to hatred.

The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group's anti-hate pledge was also a feature of 2007 federal election campaign in Tasmanian when it was also signed by all parties except the Liberal Party.

The TGLRG will also conduct an election forum for the GLBTI community in Hobart on Tuesday evening at which all political parties will be represented including the Liberal Party.

Downloadable photos from today's pledge signing are available from:
http://news.webshots.com/album/578289497oFfrdC

For more information contact Martine Delaney on 0417 530 621.