Page 2641 - Week 07 - Thursday, 2 August 2018
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MR STEEL: Chief Minister, what are some of the events that the office has been involved in supporting or organising for the community?
MR BARR: There is no doubt that visibility and awareness are key to understanding our past and thinking differently about our future. The office has been involved in supporting and organising a number of events for the community. There is the fair day held during the SpringOUT festival, Canberra’s annual pride festival. There is support for the inclusive Canberra think tank to examine current and emerging issues facing LGBTIQ Canberrans, in conjunction with the ministerial advisory council. There are educational events on intersex awareness day and transgender day of remembrance.
The office supports the attendance of around 50 young Canberrans at the YWCA’s LGBTIQ and Allies prom. There were events during National Reconciliation Week in partnership with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ network. There was participation in the 2018 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which involved more than 200 Canberrans.
There were event partnerships with national institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive. Combined, these events were attended by thousands of Canberrans and signal inclusion. They also create safe spaces for LGBTIQ Canberrans, their families and allies to connect with community.
MR PETTERSSON: Chief Minister, what benefits have we seen as a result of Canberra’s participation in the 2018 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade?
MR BARR: Beyond the glitter, the flamboyance and the satire, it is fair to observe that Mardi Gras is one of Australia’s biggest events. Canberra’s participation received local, national and international recognition. Over 300,000 spectators lined the route of the parade to watch over 12,000 participants take part in the world’s biggest celebration of the LGBTIQ community. That figure includes thousands of international guests who came from all over the world to the event. One of the more famous participants in 2018 was Cher.
SBS broadcasts the event and does so in a number of different formats. I am pleased to say that both of the Canberra floats were prominently featured, including the infamous rainbow bus. That achieved significant national and local reach in Sydney and across the nation. Mardi Gras creates opportunities for businesses and cultural institutions to promote their goods and services to the LGBTIQ community and to families and allies. Many businesses take that opportunity. Visit Canberra and the National Gallery of Australia boosted a range of themed social media activity during the Mardi Gras period to reach these target audiences.
Crime—motorcycle gangs
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. I refer to reports in the media on 18 July that the Finks motorcycle gang had been involved in a violent brawl in Anketell Street near the Tuggeranong bus interchange
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