Counsellors on hand for Victorian public servants for same-sex poll result

Victorian bureaucrats will be offered counselling from specialist LGBTQI counsellors when the marriage equality vote is announced on Wednesday.

The Victorian government is offering counselling services for staff on Wednesday, the day when the same-sex vote is revealed.

The Victorian government is offering counselling services for staff on Wednesday, the day when the same-sex vote is revealed. Source: AAP

Victorian public servants will be offered specialist counselling when the result of the national same-sex marriage postal survey is announced.

A state government spokeswoman said two existing public service specialist LGBTQI counsellors will be available for all staff on Wednesday.

"The plebiscite is unnecessary, expensive and hurtful. It has been a long, damaging and divisive campaign that has affected many in our community," she said in a statement on Monday.

"This counselling is available to all VPS staff staff at all times to support them if they need it - the marriage equality survey has provided an opportunity to remind staff of this service."

Victorian Equality Minister Martin Foley said it was up to everyone to decide how to support staff when the result is announced.

"We make no apologies for making sure we have a safe and supportive workplace for all our employees," he told 3AW on Monday.

Share
1 min read

Published

Updated



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world