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The Minns Labor Government in NSW has today established an inaugural LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council, fulfilling a commitment it made at the last election.
The new council’s first task will be to work with the Government to develop NSW’s first “LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy.”
Members of the council will work closely with the NSW Government to provide insights and recommendations on issues affecting LGBTQIA+ communities.
The NSW Government says the sixteen inaugural members range from national trailblazers to local champions, and bring with them the expertise needed to establish the council.
Members were selected based on their experiences, expertise and dedication to advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community and will serve a two-year term.
The Council’s membership
Robyn Kennedy and Dr Justin Koonin have been appointed as the inaugural Co-Chairs of the council.
Robyn is a 78er, and took part in the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and is highly regarded in the community for her decades of service to advancing equality and inclusion, including through roles with InterPride, Sydney WorldPride, Qtopia Sydney, and First Mardi Gras 78ers.
Justin has been the President at ACON since 2015 and is recognised in the LGBTQIA+ community for his leadership, expertise and advocacy as a former Convenor of the NSW Gay and Lesbians Rights Lobby.
Also joining the council is Ian Roberts, the first openly gay professional rugby league player and a board member at Qtopia Sydney.
Another member of the council is Morgan Carpenter, a longtime advocate for the intersex community in Australia as Executive Director of Intersex Human Rights Australia.
He is also joined on the council by Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown.
Dowson Turco Lawyers’ Nicholas Stewart will also sit on the new council.
The other members of the council are Danny Dalton, Brad Farrugia, Will Lawrence, Veronica Mason, Benjamin Oh, Dr Chris Pepin-Neff, Dr Victoria Rawlings, Dr Chris Townley, Kelly Young and Charlie Zada.
NSW Government’s commitment to the community
This follows ongoing work by the NSW Government to progress reforms, including an election commitment to ban ‘LGBTQ+ conversion practices’ through the Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024, which passed the NSW Parliament in March.
The Premier also issued a formal apology in June to people convicted under discriminatory laws that criminalised homosexual acts, and this year passed legislation that meant more of these offences were able to be extinguished.
In September, the NSW Government supported all 19 recommendations delivered by the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes, which examined the unsolved deaths of LGBTIQ people and found shortfalls in historical responses by the NSW Government.
Earlier this month, the Government supported the amended Equality Bill which passed NSW Parliament after being introduced by the Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich.
“Establishing the LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council is another step forward for LGBTIQ+ people in our state who deserve to be visible and heard. It will drive a more inclusive and equitable NSW,” Labor MLC and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Penny Sharpe said.
“The council is testament to our Government’s commitment to ensuring that every person in NSW can live a life free from discrimination and prejudice.
“The diversity of expertise and experiences being brought together in this council is exceptional.”
Co-Chairs speak
Co-Chair of the council, Robyn Kennedy said, “As a lesbian and 78er, I am honoured to serve as Co-Chair of this council. Our work will focus on ensuring that all LGBTIQ+ individuals in NSW are supported, respected, and have their rights upheld.
“This is what our community has always stood for through our decades of advocacy and resilience”
Co-Chair of the council, Dr Justin Koonin said, “There are legal, social and health issues that continue to impact the human rights, safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people in NSW.
“As Co-Chair of the council I am looking forward to working with members to ensure the NSW Government has direct access to the communities’ experiences, ideas and solutions.
“I am proud to be part of a council that will work towards equality for all.”
The new council is a separate body from the NSW Government’s LGBTQIA+ Consultative Committee that is consulting on the implementation of the 19 recommendations from the Special Commission of Inquiry into Hate Crimes in NSW.
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