Perhaps it’s the weight of all our first-world problems, but Westerners have lost touch with one of our strongest power bases. PROGRESSIVES internationally are being hit with some hard facts, from the reality of the United Kingdom’s vote to end its politico-economic links with the European Union (EU); through the rise of Donald Trump as […]
LGBTI versus Christians, an unnecessary war: @burgewords comments on #SafeSchools
February 26, 2016
This is not a suffering competition for martyrs, it’s a legislative process taking place in a secular nation. THE Turnbull government has no firm plans for a public vote on marriage equality. We only know it’ll be ‘after the election’, an Abbott three-word slogan for ‘on the never-never’; and that it will be a non-binding, […]
#Homophobia for the holidays: @burgewords on creating #LGBT characters
December 21, 2015
It would surprise most people to see what a strong thread of prejudice runs through families. Spending time with family over Christmas and New Year can be a challenge for anyone, but journalist and author Michael Burge explains how his first collection of short stories grew in the fertile ground of familial homophobia. WHEN I began […]
Two books, one story: @burgewords reviews @RodneyCroome on #MarriageEquality
October 20, 2015
IN every writer’s life there comes a time when a piece written by someone else renders our own contribution unnecessary. After exploring the issue of marriage equality in my country for more than a decade, Rodney Croome’s new book has finally done this for me. From This Day Forward: Marriage Equality in Australia is an […]
#QuestionableDeeds in action: @burgewords in conversation with @margokingston1
September 26, 2015
WHEN I asked Margo to help me launch my non-fiction debut Questionable Deeds: Making a stand for equal love and my first collection of short stories Closet His, Closet Hers, Tony Abbott was still Prime Minister and marriage equality remained on the never never. When we met this week at Avid Reader bookshop in West End, Brisbane, […]
It’s too late for #MarriageEquality in Australia: @burgewords #CreatingWaves
September 7, 2014
IN April 2013 Guardian Australia journalist Gay Alcorn declared the culture war was over for marriage equality and confidently asserted that after “a year or two” LGBTQI couples would bask in the same connubial rights as straight Australians. She declared the debate “interminably dull” and credited lobby group Australian Marriage Equality’s (AME) latest pitch for support – […]
Reading the #WAvotes tea leaves: @sarah_capper
April 18, 2014
[clear] Following an Australian Electoral Commission bungle after the federal Senate count last September, West Australians were forced back to the polls earlier this month, in what was supposed to represent either an endorsement for Tony Abbott’s Government and policies – or it would instead show an improvement in Labor’s poor vote in the state last […]
Doing politics differently: @indigocathy maiden speech
December 2, 2013
Madam Speaker, Colleagues, special guests, friends and family. Madam Speaker, warm congratulations on your election. I thank you and my colleagues for your warm welcome. I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners and custodians of this land, both past and present. Today I am going to share a story – about myself, about my electorate […]
Reflections on a unique campaign: Greens candidate @JennyJenocon on #Indivotes
September 16, 2013
By Jenny O’Connor, 16 September, 2013 The campaign is over and we are waiting for the result in what has turned out to be the most interesting election in the nation. At the time of writing Cathy leads by 544 votes with 2000 to count. My result as the Greens candidate has been decimated – […]
Lianna Sliwczynski, Batman Candidate, The Australian Sex Party
September 5, 2013
[clear] By Bumpy Favell 4 Sept 2013 I requested an interview with Lianna Sliwczynski, the Australian Sex Party, ASP candidate for Batman in late July 2013, along with all of the other Batman candidates. If candidates didn’t reply within a few days, I kept contacting them. Three responded promptly: Phillip Sutton, Save the Planet Party, […]
