As the latest Australian federal election winds down, Craig Young examines the implications for LGBTQIA+ Australians and the broader political dynamics at play.
The current government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party (ALP), appears well-placed to secure another term. Historically, relations between Labor and LGBTQIA+ communities have been cool, largely due to the party’s conservative Catholic working-class foundations. This legacy delayed progress on LGBTQIA+ rights for years, resulting in unequal ages of consent and exemptions for religious schools to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ staff and students.
These issues were eventually ironed out, though not without resistance from elements within Labor. Notably, some within the party opposed marriage equality, which wasn’t legislated until the time of Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Under Albanese, Labor has chosen not to remove discriminatory privileges from religious schools — something that stands in contrast to Aotearoa New Zealand. “That’s one advantage that we have over Australia. No such problems exist with our Human Rights Act.”
Albanese’s strong electoral prospects are due in part to the lacklustre performance of the Liberal/National Coalition. Like the British Conservatives, Australia’s right has cycled through leaders in recent years. The pattern began with right-wing Catholic Tony Abbott, whose hardline views and mismanagement saw him ousted in favour of the more centrist Turnbull. Turnbull shepherded in marriage equality, but his leadership was sabotaged by Abbott and other social conservatives. Eventually, they installed Pentecostal fundamentalist Scott Morrison, whose government collapsed under the weight of sex scandals, financial misdeeds and political controversies.
Now in opposition, the Coalition is fronted by Peter Dutton, a former Queensland police officer and staunch conservative. Initially embracing a Trump-style agenda, Dutton’s approach has failed to resonate. His take on trade, in particular, has echoed Trump’s tariff tactics — with similarly poor results. Like Canada’s Pierre Poilievre, Dutton is widely seen as lacking the intellectual depth and political adaptability of Albanese. Even within his own caucus, he’s viewed as a placeholder leader, likely to be dumped if he loses this election or his seat.
Predictably, Dutton has also reached for transphobic dog-whistling, echoing tactics seen from New Zealand First and other right-wing parties abroad. He’s targeted issues such as trans women’s access to women’s prisons, puberty blockers for trans youth, and trans participation in women’s sport. Fortunately, these attacks have failed to gain traction with the federal electorate. As the author puts it, “The ‘dog’ is ignoring Dutton.”
In short, Australia appears to be rejecting the right-wing playbook in favour of a more moderate and stable course under Albanese — a shift that bodes well for LGBTQIA+ Australians and reflects broader political currents across the region.
