Fri 28 Sep 2012 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Louisa Wall With marriage equality failing to get traction with the majority of Australia’s politicians, New Zealand’s marriage equality bill author Louisa Wall says while she feels for our rainbow whanau across the Tasman, the nation is not an example to follow on human rights issues. Tasmania’s upper house has voted down a marriage equality bill, the latest blow for hard-working campaigners after the two tiers of the nation’s federal government also each voted down similar legislation. Wall says Australia continues to lag behind New Zealand on human rights issues. “New Zealand gave women the right to vote in 1893 and this included indigenous women,” she points out. “Australia had full suffrage in 1911 but of note aboriginal people did not have full voting rights until 1965,” she continues. “Whether it be their lack of recognition of aboriginal occupation until Rudd's apology in 2008 or their recent actions in decriminalising homosexuality fully in 1997 their record is not great and they have always lagged behind progressive Aotearoa New Zealand.” Wall says we should be proud of our leadership on human rights and marriage equality. “I hope we can support our rainbow whanau in Australia and draw strength from each other as we each fight a collective rainbow fight for equality and non-discrimination for all people regardless of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity,” she says.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 28th September 2012 - 10:40am