LGBTQIA+ YOUTH — GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
828. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Minister for Youth:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's support for young LGBTQIA+ people who experience
discrimination and elevated rates of adverse
mental health issues. Can the minister update the house on this government's
investment in youth programs and outline what this support means for
young people who identify as LGBTQIA+?
Mr D.J.
KELLY replied:
I thank the member very much for the
question and congratulate him for his hard work in removing discrimination for everyone, and young people in particular, who
identify as LGBTQIA+. It was great to see him at the Pride night on
Saturday, along with a number of other members. If members in the chamber have
never marched in Perth's Pride Parade, they really should put it on
their bucket list. It was great to be there with the Water Corporation, the Department of Communities, the Department of Fire
and Emergency Services, the Department of Health and a range of other
government agencies—too many to mention. It is one of the most
uplifting events members will ever be involved in. If members have not done it,
they should put it on their bucket list.
When
I became Minister for Youth, one of the initiatives I picked up from my
predecessor, the member for Willagee, was the Ministerial Youth Advisory
Council that he put in place. It is an absolutely great bunch of young people
who advise me on a whole range of issues. One of the issues they raised with me
was the ongoing discrimination that young people who identify as LGBTQIA+
experience in a range of areas. It is a long list, whether it be school,
accommodation or health. They face a whole range of discrimination. One of the
things the council recommended was that the state government should fund an
advocacy service specifically for young members of that community. I looked at all the things in the report and
thought that the best thing I could do was give these young people a voice,
so in 2020 the McGowan government funded
Youth Pride Network for the first time. Previously, it had been a bunch
of hardworking volunteers, but in 2020 we gave funding to Youth Pride Network
so that it could employ its first paid staff and have the capabilities and
resources to do some good stuff. Since then, it released the State of play
report on the discrimination that LGBTQIA+ people have experienced in the
accommodation system. Youth Pride Network put in a submission when we reviewed
the Equal Opportunity Act, it made a submission on the federal Religious Discrimination Bill—that
disastrous exercise of the previous federal government—and on the
Esther House review, the report on
which was released today. I have been really impressed with the work it has
done.
I
am pleased to announce that the original three-year funding agreement that we
had in place for Youth Pride Network, which
had another year to go, has entered into a new three-year agreement to push the
network's funding out to 2025. It will be given an additional
$500 000 over three years. That will increase its staff resources and, for the
first time, give it resources so that it can engage with young queer people in
the regions. I know from some regional members that a number of regional pride groups in Western Australia often do not
get the love and attention they deserve. I am really pleased to continue
to support the Youth Pride Network.
If I can, I pay tribute to Charlotte
Glance, who was the project coordinator until recently. She was a founding
member and has now moved on to do other things. Charlotte was a great mover in
that organisation. I wish Cheyeanne Henderson-Watkins all the best in her new
role at driving that organisation.
On this side of the house, we
believe that young people in particular should be allowed to get on and be the
people they are without having their
sexuality or gender identity constantly questioned. There are enough
difficulties in the world without having to face that issue. We are very proud
on this side of the house to have supported the Youth Pride Network. We have
also funded TransFolk of WA for the first time for the work it does with young people.
I give a shout-out to Hunter, who has been a great driver of that organisation.
I am really pleased to do this on the day that we announced, through the
Attorney General, that we are banning conversion therapy in Western Australia.
That was one of the key issues that the Youth Pride Network raised with me on
many occasions. If members talk to young people who have been subjected to that
sort of dangerous and bigoted practice, they will know that it does not take
long to realise that outlawing that practice in this state is long overdue.