Wednesday, October 30, 2002
Queensland Premier ridicules study on same-sex couples
A story released today by the Australian Associated Press reports that
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has ridiculed a study showing cities with
large concentrations of same-sex couples are more innovative and likely to
foster high-tech industries.
The State of the Regions report showed a link between areas with a high
proportion of same-sex couples, such as Canberra, Hobart and inner-city
Sydney and Melbourne, and high-tech industries.
Mr. Beattie told parliament the suggestion was nonsense, mockingly suggesting subsidies to attract more same-sex couples to Queensland.
"Using the logic of this report, we should be encouraging people to set up same-sex households if we want to accelerate our Smart State credentials," he told Parliament.
Opposition leader Mike Horan said Mr Beattie was taking the research out
of context in order to justify his failed Smart State strategy.
