Today I speak about equality—hard won, deeply felt and still unfinished. While this Parliament and this Government have taken historic steps for the LGBTIQ+ community, we have a responsibility to not just pass good laws but also make sure those laws work in the lives of everyday people. When I first spoke in debate on the Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2024, I said it did two very important things. It delivered transformative change for people it directly impacted, and it sent a clear message that every person in our community is valued, respected and cared for. That remains true today. But, as we know, passing legislation is not the end of the story. While the intent of the equality Act was clear and the changes it delivered were significant, we are now hearing from families and community organisations about where the law is not yet working as it should.

I have spoken to members of my community who are still not legally recognised as the parents of their own children. They have initiated court proceedings to obtain parenting orders, as we intended them to do. But, almost two years after the law changed, they have made no progress. A Marrickville family whom I talked about when we passed the legislation is one of the families affected. They told me about their sleepless nights and concerns for their children because they still do not have parenting orders that reflect both parents. Not one parenting order has been granted in New South Wales under the provisions of the Equality Act since it was passed. We told these families and others like them across the State that we would provide a pathway to parentage orders. That has not been realised. These are not abstract issues; they affect whether a parent can make medical decisions for their child, whether they can travel without difficulty and whether their family is recognised in law. Families are navigating complex and sometimes unworkable requirements when seeking parentage orders, leaving them in legal limbo and struggling with the financial and emotional toll of the process. I have also been told about broader barriers, such as people struggling to update identity documents, issues with correcting records and settings that do not always reflect the diversity of our communities or the lived realities of people's lives.

Labor has a strong and consistent record of standing with the LGBTIQ+ community. We have led the decriminalisation of homosexuality. We have strengthened anti-discrimination protections, including working to ensure transgender people in our community are protected by anti-discrimination legislation in New South Wales. We have modernised laws to recognise the diversity of families in New South Wales, and we have not shied away from confronting the harm of the past. In June 2024 Premier Chris Minns led the Parliament in delivering an historic apology to the LGBTIQ+ community—an acknowledgment of the injustice and suffering caused by discriminatory laws and practices. That apology recognised the courage of those who fought for change and reaffirmed our responsibility to do better. That is what Labor has always done—taken practical steps to improve people's lives. The Equality Act is part of that legacy.

This moment calls on us to do what Labor has always done: listen and engage with the community, with advocates and with families who are experiencing barriers. It is on us to make sure that the promise of equality we debated in this place is the reality people experience outside it. Equality has never been a single act of Parliament; it is something we build step by step and reform by reform, guided by the experiences of the people we are here to serve. The Equality Act was a big step forward. It delivered real change. But, as with all reform, there is more work to do. Until every person is recognised, every family is protected and every child is treated equally before the law, our work is not done.

I and many other members of the Government and the Parliament will continue to work to ensure that reform delivers on what it promises. I particularly acknowledge the member for Sydney for his leadership and committed advocacy, along with important organisations such as Equality Australia, Surrogacy Australia and ACON. We will keep supporting excellent local organisations, including those in my electorate like the Gender Centre, the Flying Bats, the Newtown Breakaways, Rainbow Families and more. We will keep fighting to ensure that all members of the LGBTIQ+ community are able to live with pride, dignity, respect and equality.