2016-03-03
The Australian Greens will tonight table two petitions - one from the Greens and one from international LGBTIQ advocacy group All Out - totaling more 70,000 signatures supporting Safe Schools. The petitions were launched in response to Senator Cory Bernardi's petition of 9499 that lead to the Prime Minister calling for an investigation into the program.
"This petition sends a clear message to the government that tens of thousands of Australians and people from around the world support the important work of the Safe Schools Coalition. The program reminds young people dealing with their sexuality that they are not alone. It creates happier and safer school yards and would have made a huge difference to me as a teenager," Greens sexuality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.
"It is time for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to stand up to the arch conservatives on his back bench and support the Safe Schools program like so many Australians do."
"When 1 in 5 transgender young people experience physical abuse and 1 in 3 consider suicide, the attacks we've seen on the Safe Schools program could have tragic consequences," Greens gender identity & intersex issues spokesperson Senator Janet Rice said.
"Malcolm Turnbull must start acting in the interests of these young people instead of the dark recesses of his party room."
Media contact: Amy Moran - 0417 173 508Sam Drummond - 0400 352 935