Brisbane LGBTI Legal Service to be funded: Qld Government
Monday March 27, 2017

Brisbane LGBTI Legal Service to be funded: Qld Government

Monday, March 27, 2017
There are some days it is better than others to wake up in the morning, and today was one of those magic days. Facebook told me that today was the fourth anniversary when I and six other ordinary citizens had defeated a proposal by then Attorney-General Bleijie to criminalise gays, lesbians and singles from becoming parents through surrogacy.

On the very same day, four years later, my husband Mitchell and I were honoured to witness the announcement by the Queensland Attorney-General, Yvette D’Ath, this morning that the LGBTI Legal Service would be funded for the next three years.

As I said to the Attorney afterwards, although I had been alive when the Berlin Wall fell- so anything was possible, and although I had hoped that there would be funding, I never expected it to occur.

The LGBTI Legal Service, which is soon to turn 7, has never been funded by the taxpayer- the only community legal centre in Queensland in that category. LGBTI people are the most vulnerable, on a range of categories, including domestic violence and discrimination, so with this funding they might at long last get better protection.

Request an Appointment
Fill in the form below to find out if you have a claim.
Request an Appointment - Stephen Page
Things to Read, Watch & Listen
Surrogacy Counselling: Queensland vs NSW Differences

Surrogacy Counseling: The Key Differences Between QLD and NSW

Surrogacy counselling is one of the most important parts of any surrogacy arrangement, and it is also one of the most commonly misunderstood. That confusion does not just affect intended parents and surrogates. It can also affect lawyers, counsellors, and other professionals involved in the process. The reason is fairly simple. Both Queensland and New… Read More »Surrogacy Counseling: The Key Differences Between QLD and NSW

Surrogacy in Vietnam: Legal Risks for Australians

Surrogacy in Vietnam: The Risks of the Black Market and Restrictive Laws

Surrogacy in Vietnam is legal, but only in a very narrow and tightly controlled way. That is the starting point, and it is the point many intended parents miss. Vietnam stands apart from a number of countries in Asia because it does have a legal framework for surrogacy. On paper, that sounds encouraging. In practice,… Read More »Surrogacy in Vietnam: The Risks of the Black Market and Restrictive Laws

Surrogacy in Cyprus: Legal Risks for Australians

Surrogacy in Cyprus: Understanding the North vs South Divide

Surrogacy in Cyprus sounds, at first glance, like it might offer a Mediterranean alternative for intended parents looking overseas. In reality, Cyprus is not one surrogacy destination but two very different legal and political environments sitting on the same island. That divide matters enormously. For Australians in particular, surrogacy in Cyprus raises serious practical, legal… Read More »Surrogacy in Cyprus: Understanding the North vs South Divide

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board