Juliana ADDISON (Wendouree) (10:06): The inaugural Festival of Australian Queer Theatre was held in Ballarat over the weekend, with 13 events over four days in three venues. I was honoured to attend the opening night on Thursday with so many members of the Ballarat rainbow community – a great reflection of the support that they continually give each other – as well as visitors to Ballarat for the festival.

Queer theatre is a celebration of visibility, storytelling and inclusion. The festival creates a safe space for bold representation, boosts individual and collective pride and promotes dialogue about LGBTIQA+ lives and lived experience. It is also a brilliant opportunity to watch cutting-edge Australian queer performances for community and allies. Events like the Festival of Australian Queer Theatre also generate benefits for the local economy and further cement why our rainbow community members are proud to call Ballarat home.

Significantly, Ballarat is home to the fifth largest LGA of LGBTIQA+ community members in the state. Festivals only become a reality because of the artistic vision and persistence of the people behind them. Well done to the organisers, artists, supporters, venue and media partners and volunteers who contributed to make the festival a success.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Deb Lord not only for the drive behind the festival but for being a constant champion of the LGBTIQA+ community in Ballarat. I am extremely proud that the Allan Labor government supported the inaugural festival, and I am confident that it will grow from strength to strength.

You can take a look at more of my speeches to Parliament here.