Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Intolerance

A question put forward to the Hon. P. HOLLOWAY regarding Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Intolerance.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK:

1. Can the Attorney-General advise whether the defence of ‘gay panic’ has been utilised in any assault cases within the South Australian courts?

2. How many instances of harassment associated with Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Transgender intolerance were reported in the years:

(a) 2002-03;

(b) 2003-04; and

(c) 2004-05?

3. How many instances of vilification associated with Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Transgender intolerance were reported in the years:

(a) 2002-03;

(b) 2003-04; and

(c) 2004-05?

4. How many instances of murder and/or manslaughter associated with Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Transgender intolerance were reported in the years:

(a) 2002-03;

(b) 2003-04; and

(c) 2004-05?

5. How many instances of assault associated with Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Transgender intolerance were reported in the years:

(a) 2002-03;

(b) 2003-04; and

(c) 2004-05?

6. What strategies has the government implemented to prevent crimes directed towards Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Transgender people in our community?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Questions 2 to 5 have been referred to the South Australia Police (SAPOL) who advise that SAPOL systems do not record data which is able to be extracted in the categories listed.

SAPOL advise that a trial program has been operating in conjunction with the organisation Gay Men’s Health whereby that organisation’s “Anti Violence Reporting Form” can be referred to police. The form is designed for those people from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) community who have been a victim of violent crime and want to report the incident but are reluctant to report the matter to police. Gay Men’s Health have also trained and made the form available to other service providers such as Life Line; Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service; Southern Women’s Health and Second Story.

Upon receipt by SAPOL, the information is assessed for police action. If police action is required, the report is handled according to normal police practice. If the report is submitted for police information only, a SAPOL ancillary report is created and the information is included in the SAPOL crime database.

In the six month trial period, eleven reports were forwarded through to SAPOL with victim contact details being including in all reports except one. One report required police action which was undertaken by the Crime Management Unit in the geographic area in which the offence occurred. Information from the other ten reports has been added to the SAPOL crime database via the standard ancillary report process.