Liberal Party endorses openly-gay candidate to run for North Sydney by-election
Image: Trent Zimmerman, who happens to be gay, is the Liberal Party candidate for the North Sydney federal electorate by-election. (Supplied photo)
THE man endorsed as the聽Liberal Party’s candidate聽in the December by-election for the North Sydney electorate could become Australia’s first openly-gay man in the House of Representatives, should he win.
The Liberal Party yesterday announced Trent Zimmerman聽as their聽candidate for the federal electorate left vacant by former treasurer Joe Hockey.
[showads聽ad=MREC]A former North Sydney councillor and former vice-president of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association, the 47-year-old聽worked as Hockey’s political adviser before yesterday’s announcement.
Speaking to the 17c起草社区, Zimmerman outlined his top priorities for the LGBTI community that he would advocate for if he were to win the by-election on December 5.
“I would be heavily advocating for a ‘yes’ vote on marriage equality,” he said.
“If I were in parliament before I would’ve argued for a free vote, but the party policy is now for a plebiscite.
“I am very confident there would be a ‘yes’ vote in my community and across the country.”
Regarded as a safe Liberal seat, North Sydney’s previous MP was also an opponent of marriage equality 鈥斅爏omething Zimmerman acknowledged.
“Joe [Hockey] and I had a few disagreements in the issue,” he said.
“I tried to persuade him, but I was impressed that he wanted a free vote in parliament.
“Nonetheless, Joe was very supportive of me when we worked together.”
He also believes聽the Liberal voters in his electorate would be happy to see marriage equality become a reality.
“North Sydney is a very progressive community, the residents understand that marriage equality is a very important part of everyone’s equality.”
The 17c起草社区 also asked if he would consider advocating for other issues other an marriage equality, such as lobbying the Therapeutic Goods Administration 鈥斅燗ustralia’s peak regulatory agency for medical drugs and devices 鈥� to have PrEP approved or reducing the 12-month deferral period for blood donations from gay men.
Zimmerman responded by saying he wanted to consult with key stakeholders and experts in the field聽first.
“I’m very happy to talk with anyone with more expertise,” he said.
When he served on North Sydney Council between 2004 and 2012, he led campaigns for better聽financial sustainability and the revitalisation of North Sydney CBD.
A local resident of Waverton, he has also been involved in the local Rotary Club and as a聽representative on the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust鈥檚 Community Consultative Committee.
鈥淐ommunity service is a passion for me, I have dedicated a large part of my life to serving our community and I want to continue this by serving as the member for North Sydney,鈥� Zimmerman said.
摆蝉丑辞飞补诲蝉听补诲=贵翱翱罢闭
You May Also Like
Current liberal party policy is to continue the discriminatory nature of marriage until after the next election. Subsequently there will be a second vote and if a majority of voters and a majority of original states say yes, it will go back to parliament where politicians of either house can still say can say up yours to all who campaign for equal marriage.
This is not good enough! If Turnbull, Bishop and Zimmerman want equal marriage the Bill should be put and passed now!
So tell me again, how does his endorsement get me legally married before the next election? I’m terribly afraid that’s the ONLY thing that interests me about the Liberal party at the moment. Don’t get me wrong either, I’m advocating for the ALP, their support has been luke warm pee, in government as well.
Australia is a decade behind other western countries on gay rights – if we have SSM by 2025 I will be sincerely shocked.
Trent Zimmerman (like all other Liberal party members, supporters and voters), are just “lipstick on a pig” or “mutton dressed as a lamb”!
He’s had ZERO involvement with the community
F….ck off another careerist!
You’re worse than Christine Forster.
It’s so amusing with these candidates who are party apparatchiks that have no support from their grassroots Liberal members
Mr Zimmerman is one of them.
Stop using your identity to win the gay vote when you’re Uncle Toms in disguise
You’re akin to an Asian Neo-Nazi in my book.
He’s gay and a member of the liberal party, so shouldn’t he be described as openly self loathing… NOT openly gay.
You have to be kidding me right? I will never ever vote for the Liberal or National party! The bigots party does not support marriage equality. The Labor party allow a conscience vote until 2019, after 2019 it will be a binding vote on marriage equality (just like the Greens currently have).