‘Not that long ago it was an offence for us to be who we are’: State gets first openly gay ministers - The Age

Harriet Shing and Steve Dimopoulous were children when homosexuality was decriminalised in Victoria. But the stigma, and the discrimination, around being gay did not just go away because homosexuality was abolished as a crime.

Premier Daniel Andrews with new appointees (from left) Colin Brooks, Lizzie Blandthorn, Steve Dimopoulos, Jacinta Allan and Harriet Shing. Credit:Scott McNaughton

“Having our identity be enough to be criminal is something that generations of people carry with them, and a source of enormous grief and stress, and there are so many ways how shame manifests across our lives,” Shing said.

She and Dimopoulos now sit in the top echelons of this state, having been sworn in as cabinet ministers on Monday at Government House. They have made history by becoming Victoria’s first openly gay frontbenchers, and now hope to represent what they couldn’t see represented in the state’s parliament all those years ago.

Government members pose for a group photo at Government House during the swearing-in ceremony on Monday.Credit:AAP

Said Shing: “It’s not that long ago it was an offence for us to be who we are; not that long ago people were convicted of offences of holding their partners’ hands in public. To now look around the line-up of ministers and to see visibility and representation means an enormous amount to those Victorians who struggle to see themselves represented in Parliament, who struggle to see themselves being supported.”

Shing is also Victoria’s first cabinet minister with a Chinese background.

She and Dimopoulos were among five new ministers sworn in after the Andrews government lost five of its most senior ministers, including the deputy premier, on Friday.

New minister Harriet Shing (right) with Governor Linda Dessau. Credit:AAP

Shing, who represents Eastern Victoria in the upper house, has become minister for equality, regional development and water. Dimopoulos, the member for Oakleigh, has taken on the portfolios of tourism, sport, major events and creative industries.

Colin Brooks has become minister for child protection, family services, disability, ageing and carers. Lizzie Blandthorn is minister for planning and leader of the lower house, while Sonya Kilkenny has become minister for corrections, youth justice and victim support, as well as fishing and boating.

Steve Dimopoulos with the Governor.Credit:AAP

“I feel extraordinarily privileged and honoured,” Dimopoulos said when asked about the significance of his elevation to cabinet.

“There are so many gay men and women that I’m sure have served in Victorian and national cabinets but not in a way that they could be open. So I’m sort of feeling a little bit nostalgic for so many others in the past who didn’t get the openness and transparency and choice because the government and society at that time wasn’t progressive.”

Who’s who: Labor’s new ministry (those new to cabinet marked with asterisk)

• Daniel Andrews: Premier
• Jacinta Allan: Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery
• Jaclyn Symes: Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services
• Gayle Tierney: Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture
• Tim Pallas: Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Trade
• Lizzie Blandthorn*: Leader of the House, Minister for Planning
• Colin Brooks*: Minister for Child Protection and Family Services, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers
• Anthony Carbines: Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing
• Ben Carroll: Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Minister for Business Precincts, Minister for Public Transport, Minister for Roads and Road Safety
• Lily D’Ambrosio: Minister for Energy, Minister for Environment and Climate Action, Minister for Solar Homes
• Steve Dimopolous*: Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Creative Industries
• Melissa Horne: Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development
• Natalie Hutchins: Minister for Education, Minister for Women
• Sonya Kilkenny*: Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support, Minister for Fishing and Boating
• Shaun Leane: Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Veterans
• Danny Pearson: Minister for Housing, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Government Services, Minister for Regulatory Reform
• Jaala Pulford: Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital, Economy, Minister for Resources, Minister for Small Business
• Harriet Shing*: Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality
• Ros Spence: Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Youth
• Ingrid Stitt: Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Workplace Safety
• Mary-Anne Thomas: Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services
• Gabrielle Williams: Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples
• Steve McGhie: Cabinet Secretary

Shing paid tribute to the outgoing minister for equality, Martin Foley, who she said had led significant reform for LGBTQ people, including apologising for historical convictions, banning gay conversion and suppression practices, allowing trans and gender diverse people to amend their birth certificates and establishing Australia’s first pride centre.

Sonya Kilkenny

She also sent a message to Victoria’s transgender community in the wake of a FINA decision to effectively ban trans women athletes from competing in elite swimming.

“Trans rights are human rights,” Shing said. “When we look at the levels of discrimination, harassment and the vilification that trans Victorians face every single day throughout their entire lives, it should be beyond doubt that we take the action necessary to make sure that they are protected, they are welcome and that they are supported to reach their very best potential.”

Premier Daniel Andrews was forced into a major pre-election reshuffle after Foley, James Merlino, Richard Wynne, Lisa Neville and Martin Pakula announced they would step down from cabinet immediately and not recontest their seats in November.

Between the five retiring ministers, the government has lost eight decades of frontbench and a century of parliamentary experience.

Jacinta Allan has been sworn in as the deputy premier, becoming only the second woman in Victorian history to hold the position. She will also take on a new portfolio as the minister charged with delivering the Commonwealth Games.

She said the historic moment of her elevation, as well as the appointments of Dimopoulos and Shing, was not lost on her.

“I hope that it demonstrates … that regardless of your background, regardless of your postcode, regardless of your gender, under this state and under the leadership and reform of the Daniel Andrews led government, we are a community and society that is inclusive, and that sees strong performance rewarded, that sees equality as an opportunity.”

More than half the Victorian cabinet is now made up of women.

The retirement of Foley, Merlino, Pakula and Neville reopens a preselection battle for their safe seats. When asked if he wanted to see the Labor Party preselect more ethnically diverse candidates, Andrews said he wanted to lead a team that looks like the community that it serves.

“We always need to strive, all of us, need to strive to make that the parliament and the cabinet looks like the community it serves,” he said.

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2022-06-27 06:39:45Z
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