Tasmanian State Election 2025
Equality Tasmania has asked candidates to sign pledges and answer questions about issues of concern to the LGBTIQA+ community during each election since 1989.
Authorised by Dr Ash Russell for Equality Tasmania, 24 Davey Street, Hobart, 7000
Election Forum
Each election, Equality Tasmania runs a community forum to ask current candidates about their priorities and support for the LGBTIQA+ community. This year’s forum was held on July 9th, 7pm AEST, online via a Microsoft Teams Webinar.
Election Survey
Equality Tasmania has surveyed parties and candidates on issues of concern to the LGBTIQA+ community during each state election since 1989.
We ask for candidate responses to our questions to better inform the LGBTIQA+ community and our families and allies about their voting options.
Candidate and party responses have been listed in the order we received.
Party Responses covering all Electorates
No other major parties have returned their surveys yet.
Independent Candidates by Electorate
Party Responses covering all Electorates
“Every LGBTIQA+ Tasmanian deserves to live freely, authentically, and without fear of discrimination or prejudice. Reforms that support diversity and inclusion make Tasmania a better place – for everyone.
Marriage equality was an important milestone, but the Greens know the reforms we need don’t stop there. The questions in this survey show there is still a lot to do. The Greens are unwavering in our support for the reforms and loud advocacy needed to make LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians feel and be safe, healthy and included.”
Greens’ Full Survey Response
“Labor has long been a strong defender of the rights of LGBTIQA+ people in Tasmania and around the country. In many instances, it has been the Tasmanian branch of the ALP that has championed these issues within the Party at a national level.
At a local level, it was the Labor Party that introduced many local laws that protect the rights of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians including the Anti Discrimination Act, Relationships Act (prior to Marriage Equality being enacted nationally), and same sex adoption. More recently we also worked with the crossbench in 2019 to deliver nation leading gender recognition law reform which protects the rights of Transgender and gender diverse Tasmanians and enables everyone to have documents that match their gender identity.
Labor rank and file members as well as elected MPs publicly advocate for the rights of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians by developing policy and advocating for change. We also support LGBTIQA+ rights by attending protests and rallies in support of the community and participating in things like TasPride, the Dorothy Awards and other events on the Queer Calendar!
Labor respects and values the LGBTIQA+ community, we are part of the community and join with LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians, their families and allies to push for change that protects, benefits and celebrates the community.”
Labor’s Full Survey Response
“The Tasmanian Liberals are deeply committed to building an inclusive Tasmania where LGBTIQA+ people are safe, healthy, visible and valued – living with dignity, belonging and pride.
It was a Liberal Government that established the LGBTIQA+ working group and delivered the first Framework and grant program for this community. In 2021, the Tasmanian Liberal Government funded the first ever survey of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians to understand their experiences with Government services.
Under a Liberal Government, Tasmania now has some of the best LGBTIQA+ discrimination and relationship laws in the nation and has made significant progress in advancing the rights and dignity of LGBTIQA+ people.
The LGBTIQA+ Reference Group provides advice to the Tasmanian Government on the development and delivery of effective and evidence-informed policy, programs and projects to address inequality and increase the wellbeing and participation of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians in all aspects of society. It includes representatives from each Tasmanian Government agency, LGBTIQA+ community organisations and individual community members.
The 2024-25 State Budget committed to continuing support for equality in Tasmania by providing $500,000 over two years to support LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians.
Our Government has been working with Equality Tasmania, Working It Out and the Whole-of-Government LGBTIQA+ Reference Group to finalise a new Strategy and Action Plan, which draws on the Telling Us the Story Report and extensive community consultation. This Strategy sets the course for the next five years to ensure that all LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians can live their lives free from discrimination, stigma and prejudice.
A re-elected Tasmanian Liberal Government will get on with the job of progressing inclusion in Tasmania by releasing the LGBTIQA+ Strategy and providing a further $202,000 in 2025 -26 to deliver it.”
Liberal’s Letter Response
Bass Candidates
“Pedro Pascal (‘the Mandalorian’) called out a well-known anti-trans billionaire author as a ‘heinous loser’, and defended his actions because ‘bullies make me %&?$ing sick’ and that he wants to ‘protect the people I love’.
This is the vibe I want to bring to the Tasmanian Parliament if elected.
I have a low threshold for deliberate dumbassery, and nothing is as deliberately stupid and banal as hate and bigotry (or billionaires for that matter).
I don’t intend to be just a reactive defender of LGBTIQA+ rights when they are threatened. I want to be proactive in promoting and celebrating the strength, courage and accomplishments of the LGBTIQA+ Community.
I also know there’s a lot that the LGBTIQA+ community can teach me about how to be a better ally. As a social worker, I work hard on developing skills and values like listening and empathy. I want to be a potent activist in Parliament, but I will always be ready to listen and learn.
Human rights should be championed and celebrated assertively.
LGBTIQA+ rights are human rights.
Rights empower us all.
I will always be there for the LGBTIQA+ community.
Peace and power be with you.”
Jack’s Full Survey Response
“I’m a proud ally of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians. I believe everyone deserves to live with dignity, safety and pride, free from discrimination and exclusion. For me, inclusion isn’t a slogan, it’s a responsibility. I’m committed to building a Tasmania where equality is a lived experience, not just a talking point. I will always stand with LGBTIQA+ individuals, families and communities in the fight for fairness, visibility and respect, whether it’s in healthcare, education, policy or public life. My support is genuine, and it’s unwavering.”
Rebekah’s Full Survey Response
Braddon Candidates
No independent Braddon candidates have returned the survey yet.
Clark Candidates
“We are all equal and deserve to be treated that way. Unfortunately, the LGBTIQA+ community experiences high levels of discrimination and stigma which can have terrible impacts on their health and wellbeing. I support and advocate for a range of measures including public education and law reform to address this to ensure that all LGBITQA+ people can live, love and thrive. I proudly initiated the recent inquiry into discrimination and bullying in Tasmanian schools and have been actively working on other pieces of reform legislation to protect the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Kristie’s Full Survey Response
Franklin Candidates
“I am a strong ally of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians, and have proudly voted in favour or marriage equality and on other matters relating to LGBTIQA+ equality and justice in the Tasmanian parliament. I am in favour of proposals to ban conversion therapy and medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex babies. I also support better access to gender-affirming medical care in Tasmania as I know this can be difficult for people to access. I am also in favour of the Sentencing Amendment (Aggravating Factors) Bill 2025 tabled earlier this year to better protect LGBTIQA+ people from hate crimes.”
David’s Full Survey Response
“My name is Kirsten Bacon, and I am a committed advocate for social justice, equity, and creating an equal playing field for all. I recognise that members of the LGBTIQA+ community still face barriers to respect, opportunity, and inclusion. As an independent supporting Peter George, I fully support policies that promote diversity, love, and equality.
I’m passionate about inclusive education will advocate for better funding for programs like those delivered by Working It Out and Family Planning, which provide vital, inclusive sexual health education. Every young person deserves to feel seen, respected, and supported in a diverse society.
I have proudly been involved with TasPride for many years, supporting safe, inclusive events including my family participating in the first official TasPride march over 15 years ago and ever since and more recently through DECYP and my school community. I will always stand for equality and inclusion.
Diversity matters to me, it enriches our society, and the queer community is a powerful example of that truth.
“
Kirsten’s Full Survey Response
Peter’s Full Survey Response
Lyons Candidates
