Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade

The Hon. HELEN WESTWOOD [5.09 p.m.]: This weekend thousands of people will be participants in, and many more will be spectators of, what is one of Sydney's and indeed Australia's major cultural events. I am referring, of course, to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. This event is the culmination of months of 100 high-quality cultural, sporting and social events. This is the thirtieth anniversary of this truly iconic event, which I have watched develop from a political protest to the celebration of the lives and rights achieved by people who are gay, lesbian, trans-gender, bisexual and queer. This event has a 30-year colourful history and has had its many detractors who every year would pray for rain. Sometimes they were successful but more often than not they were unsuccessful. Most Sydneysiders would agree we have probably had enough rain this year.

The festival kicked off on Saturday 9 February 2007 with a commemorative tree planting ceremony in Centennial Park. On 17 February I attended Fair Day at Victoria Park along with approximately 80,000 people. Many families and members of the gay and lesbian community with their supporters were present. It was a wonderful display of community, great food and wonderful entertainment. At Fair Day I had the opportunity to proudly participate in the Sea of Hearts, which is a mass planting of 5,000 pink hearts by the gay and lesbian community and their supporters calling on the Federal Government to reform our Federal laws. This was the launch of the 58 '08 campaign, which is to recognise that at least 58 current laws discriminate against same-sex couples and their children.

In 2007 the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission released the final report from its inquiry into discrimination against people in same-sex relationships. The Same-Sex: Same Entitlements report found that in the area of financial and workplace benefits same-sex couples and their children miss out on everyday rights and entitlements that most Australians take for granted. This is not about special rights for same-sex couples; it is about ensuring that all couples have equal rights to the same entitlements and benefits that children with gay parents have the economic and emotional stability that comes with full recognition and legal equality. I think it is true to say that as long as gays and lesbians are treated differently by our laws it validates the view held by some that we are not equal citizens of this nation and that we are not entitled to the same rights as other Australians. It is this belief that leads to discrimination against gays and lesbians, lack of acceptance and intolerance that, at its worst, leads to hate crimes. Regrettably, homophobic violence continues in our community. It is extremely disappointing that both men and women are still discriminated against and vilified in their employment. I acknowledge the courage of the gay ex-police officer who went public in the media last weekend with his experiences. I only hope that there are lessons learnt. It is great that he will be at the parade supporting his former colleagues on Saturday night.

Oxford Street, just down the road from this place, on Saturday night will be full of colour, music, laughter, panache, passion and soul as the month-long festival comes to an end. There will be many floats on Saturday night parading along Oxford Street that will represent the great diversity of the gay and lesbian community throughout New South Wales and Australia. As well as the gay and lesbian communities and sporting, cultural, religious, political and business groups in the parade, there will also be supporters of the gay and lesbian community. I mention particularly Rainbow Labor and the unions who will be proudly participating in the parade on Saturday night and also the 100 reverends who are planning to say sorry to those rejected by the churches because of their sexuality. It was wonderful to hear Pastor Mike Hercock say, "Church has been a hostile place for a number of people, including the homosexual community. It's really trying to get away from the ideology of throwing rocks." This is such an important step in the journey ahead as the gay and lesbian community continue in our pursuit of equality and acceptance. I take the opportunity to wish all members of the gay and lesbian community, my brothers and sisters, a very happy Mardi Gras.