Labor criticised for apparent ‘backtrack’ on stronger LGBTQ+ legal protections

Draft changes to party’s platform replace commitment to strengthen laws with ‘almost meaningless’ clause to ‘develop policy’, advocates say

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Labor has been criticised for proposing to ditch a commitment to strengthening legal protections for the LGBTQ+ community, with queer advocates saying the party appeared to have “backtracked”.

A consultation draft of changes to Labor’s national platform, released this week, proposes to remove a commitment from the 2021 platform to “strengthen laws and expand initiatives against discrimination, vilification and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics”.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup