Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens' Leader
The Hodgman Government's decision to scrap funding for the Safe Schools' program is a sure sign the Premier and Education Minister have caved in to pressure from Senator Abetz, and the extreme Right within their ranks.
The price for their cowardice will be paid by those Tasmanian LGBTI students who experience victimisation and bullying in their school environments.
Last week, the Premier apologised to LGBTI Tasmanians for the damage caused by past, unjust laws. This week, the announcement that Safe Schools' funding has been axed.
The Safe Schools' funding decision comes on top of the continued push to weaken State anti-discrimination laws that provide LGBTI Tasmanians with legal protection from discrimination.
This tells a sad story of Will Hodgman’s leadership and his government’s hypocrisy on social issues.
The program the Liberals claim will replace Safe Schools is yet to be revealed. It’s understood to be a broad program, with no specialized teacher training or specialized school community support for LGBTI students.
Less than a week after his historic apology to generations of homosexual and transgender Tasmanians convicted of crimes, simply for being themselves, Will Hodgman’s government is axing the program that would support schools in nurturing the next generation.
The Liberals’ attempt at weakening the Anti-Discrimination Act has been shelved, while they hope for new mix in the Legislative Council. Sadly, it's clear, the extreme Right powerbrokers, like Senator Abetz, are still in control of the Tasmanian Liberals.