Tasmanian upper house vote records far right's decline

By Tony Iltis

LAUNCESTON -- On May 31, in elections to Tasmania's Legislative Council, voters rejected the homophobic, religious fundamentalist conservatives who have traditionally dominated the house.

For the first time since 1958, two women were elected. Sylvia Smith won the Launceston seat of Westmorland, ousting high profile anti-gay bigot George Brookes. Another leading homophobe, Central Coast councillor Rodney Cooper, unsuccessfully contested the seat of Leven, coming third in a poll won by Sue Smith.

Brookes slammed his electorate as “ungrateful”, saying, “I have always acted in the best interests of the electorate, such as believing homosexuality is wrong. I'm just amazed that 60% of people can walk into a polling booth and vote against me.”

Cooper said, “Women have never really done much for the human race ... they caused a few problems in the garden of Eden.”

Facing a censure motion in the Cental Coast council and widespread condemnation in the media (including from his wife), Cooper denied that he was denigrating women, but went on to say, “Primarily a woman's role is at home looking after children and being a housekeeper”.

The election results are another example of changing community attitudes that have come out of grassroots campaigning, particularly on the issue of gay law reform.

Democratic Socialists spokesperson Sarah Stephen commented, “Part of the undemocratic nature of the Upper House is that its members face election only every six years. These elections show that the lesbian and gay movement and the feminist movement have won gains in terms of changing attitudes. Brookes and Cooper may not understand, but voters are rejecting homophobes and misogynists.”

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