GREG MACKIE

Greg Mackie has had a long association with the arts and cultural life of Adelaide. As long-time co-proprietor of Imprints Booksellers (1984-2007), he was an active supporter of many community groups, and presented hundreds of events for booklovers. He served on the boards of many arts organisations, including FEAST Festival, the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust and the Libraries Board of SA. Following a decade with Adelaide Writers’ Week advisory board, Greg founded the biennial Adelaide Festival of Ideas.

In 2000 Greg was elected to the Adelaide City Council. From 2004-2009 Greg was Executive Director of Arts SA, the South Australian government’s key arts policy and funding body. He is currently Deputy Chief Executive in the SA Department of the Premier and Cabinet, where, among other accountabilities, he retains a connection to the arts portfolio, as well as the highly regarded Adelaide Thinkers in Residence Program and the government’s University City Strategy. He is the SA Government’s nominee to the Australian Honours Council, chairs the Premier’s Communications Advisory Group, and serves on the Adelaide College of the Arts Advisory Board.

In 2002 Greg was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the arts and culture, and in 2007 was honoured with the AbaF Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Cultural Leadership Award. When he’s not running around like a mad thing, Greg and Jonathan, his partner of 20 years enjoy re-foresting their property near Cape Jervis.

Why have you chosen to represent this same-sex law reform campaign?

Like most Australians I was unaware of just how many pieces of legislation discriminated against same sex couples.

I’m proud to lend my voice to this awareness campaign. As someone who was less active in the journey to these new rights, I feel that the least I can do is help to get the news out there.

What sorts of same-sex discrimination have you experienced?

In the main I have enjoyed a fair run in dealings with governments at every level, despite the fact that my home state did lag behind others in its own suite of legislative reforms. The Let’s Get Equal Campaign is to be thanked for going the distance to bring the government to implement its own policy and into line with other states. But in dealings with banks and superannuation I’ve encountered structural discrimination over the years but glad to say not in recent times. I was once declined finance from one bank and found it was a result of prejudice on the part of one branch manager – they lost our business and another bank was eager to pick it up. And I was outraged when my former superannuation fund refused to guarantee that my super would go to my long-time same-sex partner in the event of my death. Again, I exercised my consumer options and switched funds.

How do you think these reforms will make a difference to your life, or to the lives of those close to you?

To have the confidence that our rights of partner access in hospitals is a great comfort. To know that my friends who work for the Commonwealth Government will have their relationships respected and treated in the same way as de-facto heterosexual couples is a step forward. In matters of social security it is only fair that we declare our primary relationship despite the financial impact. And I’m really glad that my same-sex coupled friends with children will be treated with dignity and equality under the law. That said, there are many older same-sex couples for whom the implementation has had an immediate negative impact in relation to pension entitlements, while they have been disadvantaged by the system for most of their lives. I celebrate these changes.

Why do you think people should wear these 85 law reforms with pride?

The T-shirts are cool. A wide variety of creative interpretations that are subtle but likely to invite inquiry as to their symbolism. Queer Australia has always been a microcosm of the general population, so there’s a colour to suite everyone and sizes for every body type.

For the fabulous and patient activists who helped reach this outcome, it will resonate powerfully. For the rest of us who will benefit in one way or another into the future from their hard work, wearing them is was way to say ‘thanks’.

Why do you think this is a huge step forward for Australia?

Equality and social attitudinal change is a long journey that has already taken generations, with many heroes and, sadly, many victims along the way. While there is still a way to go for full equality for same-sex attracted people and couples, and still entrenched prejudice in the minds and hearts of some fellow citizens and some institutions, the journey continues, and we will eventually follow the lead of the most progressive nations around the world. And we can be truly thankful that our society sits fairly and squarely among those heading toward equality and respect.

What do you like about your T-Shirt design?

Colour and movement.

Back to top