World Congress of Families conference venue uncertain with just days to go
ORGANISERS have been left scrambling to find a location for the World Congress of Families conference scheduled for Saturday after the hosting venue responded to public outcry by cancelling its booking.
After previously announcing it was “reviewing” plans to hire out the venue to the World Congress of Families (WCF), Aurora Receptions in Brunswick today told the Star Observer the booking had been cancelled.
This is the third venue change for the event, which has attracted enormous public anger over the WCF’s anti-gay and anti-abortion stances, and a conference session linking abortion to breast cancer.
Despite the outcry, a number of high-profile state and federal politicians are set to attend Saturday’s conference, including federal welfare minister Kevin Andrews (pictured), who will give the opening address.
Victorian attorney-general Robert Clark is also set to attend.
Large protests by a number of activist groups are also expected on the day, with plans to blockade the yet-to-be-determined venue to prevent conference participants from entering.
You May Also Like
Some of us are still killed or destroyed, by bigotry. So it astonishing the Liberal Party would allow Ministers to give legitimacy and credibility to a group who seeks to bring Australians genuine harm. In Victoria, Clem Newton Brown must be wondering why on earth Robert Clark would attend a conference, where some seek to have many of his constituants in Prahran, thrown into jail, or subjected to state sanctioned violence. Mr Clark is the chief lawmaker. The Attorney General is also in charge of the Equal Opportunity Act. I really feel sorry for Clem. The Premiere, and the Prime minister, are demonstrating a lack of regard for our safety.
Politicians are currently trying to engage the public about the potential horror of Home Grown Terrorism. Clearly Ministers going to radical fundamentalist conferences can bring terrible harm to the fabric of our peaceful society. I do not want state sanctioned violence, or some nutjob I pass leaving a venue, believing a message of hate and violence is now supported by senior politicians, that we should be targeted.
Tony Abbott and Dennise Napthine have demonstrated a complete lack of leadership. Who is next to support, race hate groups? Where are the values of these leaders if such hate and bigotry is supported?