Australia's top lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lobby group, the Equal Rights Network, has accused the Government of being obsessed with persecuting LGBT people.

The accusation comes in response to the Government re-introducing legislation banning same sex marriages less than a day after similar legislation was sent to a Senate inquiry.

ERN spokespeople, Rodney Croome and Somali Cerise, said that the Government is obsessively pursuing an ideological anti-gay agenda.

"Forget Iraq and terrorism, the most urgent threat to Australia in the Government's eyes is legal equality for same sex couples", Mr Croome said.

"Voters will be turned off by a Government which puts issues like health care and education reform to one side while it obsessively harasses an already disadvantaged minority."

Ms Cerise welcomed a commitment from the ALP not to support the Government's new marriage amendment bill.

"The ALP, together with the Greens, Democrats and two independents did the right thing yesterday by sending the issues of same sex marriage and adoption to a Senate Committee for further investigation", Ms Cerise said.

"These issues have broad ranging legal, constitutional and social implications which must be considered beyond the polarised and heated environment of an election campaign."

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or Somali Cerise on 0411 869 595.

Submitted by ILGA Member
Australian Bisexual Network

EQUAL RIGHTS NETWORK
Media Statement, 24.6.04