Scroll down for the Minister’s response, or click here to discover more about how we’re working for Wendouree.

Original adjournment matter from Juliana Addison MP to Parliament –

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Equality, and I am delighted that she is in the chamber today for me to raise this adjournment matter. The action that I seek is for her to visit my electorate of Wendouree to meet with representatives of our vibrant LGBTIQA+ community at a stakeholder round table.

I am a proud ally of the Ballarat rainbow community, and I support trans and gender-diverse people in my electorate and across Ballarat and our state. I was delighted to join with the minister in Daylesford last weekend for the ChillOut parade, marching with a local contingent including members of Rainbow Labor and alongside the federal member for Ballarat the Honourable Catherine King as well as the Minister for Health, who is also the local member. It was a wonderful celebration for our thriving regional LGBTQIA Victorians.

I also wish to take this time to acknowledge the work of QHub in my electorate, which is a safe, affirming and inclusive space for young members of the Ballarat rainbow community and their families. QHub is funded by our Labor government and is an LGBTIQA+ youth mental and social connection program delivered in partnership with Drummond Street Services, Queerspace, Wellways and CAFS in central Ballarat. I visited Ballarat QHub last week and met with the team, including Jack, Asha, Alex and AJ, as well as Emily and Wendy from CAFS to learn more about the work they are doing to boost inclusion for our LGBTIQA+ youth across western Victoria.

I would welcome the opportunity to host the minister in Ballarat to hear directly from a range of voices and perspectives about local priorities and the government’s equality strategy. I look forward to the minister’s response and to welcoming her to Ballarat.

Response in Parliament from the Hon. Vicki Ward MP, Minister for Equality (19 March 2025) –

I thank the member for Wendouree for inviting me to visit local representatives of the rainbow community in her electorate. I want to thank her for this very kind invitation and also acknowledge and thank her for her allyship and her support of rainbow community members in Ballarat.

I love going to Ballarat. It is a wonderful community, and I know it is a community that she is extremely proud of. I look forward very much to meeting with her and other community members in the near future.

Watch and read more of my speeches to Parliament here, including responses from ministers on how we’re working for Wendouree.