Why a new member of state parliament announced he was gay during his inaugural speech

A new Liberal MP who “hates identity politics” says he announced he was gay during his inaugural speech to the Victorian parliament because he wanted to highlight the fact it isn’t a big deal.

“I guess I wanted to show people that it is OK to be on the conservative side of politics and still be open about your sexuality,” Joe McCracken told Neil Mitchell on Friday.

“It really isn’t a big deal and it frustrates me, to no end, that it is made to be a big deal by those whose political purposes it suits.”

Press PLAY below to hear Joe McCracken speak with Neil Mitchell