Clarke saved by Liberals deal
Controversial NSW Liberal David Clarke has survived a preselection challenge from a candidate backed by self-styled ‘progressive-conservatives’ within the Liberal Party.
Clarke beat Civil Contractors Federation CEO David Elliott by a vote of 50 to 36 on February 19, retaining his spot on the Liberal ticket after both federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott and the NSW Opposition leader Barry O’Farrell gave him their backing. Moderate Liberals supported Clarke in return for two of their own candidates gaining preselection.
Clarke is commonly referred to as the leader of the religious right of the Liberals and has a history of making controversial statements about homosexuality.
He used his maiden speech in Parliament to oppose an equal of age of consent in NSW, and in 2004 claimed, “studies show a far higher rate of sexual molestation of children in homosexual households than in heterosexual households”.
Liberal MLC Charlie Lynn, who was rumoured to be prepared to quit the Liberals if Clarke was dumped, will remain in the party. In 2008 Lynn claimed the Labor Party had intended to “expose vulnerable young boys to sexual predators” through equalising the age of consent.
The progressive-conservative group within the Liberals is headed by a former protégé of Clarke’s, the federal Liberal MP, Alex Hawke.
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The GLBT people who support the Liberal party will be excited by the pre-selection of David Clarke I imagine.
I have experience of David Clarke having spoken at the same sex adoption inquiry. For someone I never met, I could not get over what seething and uncontrolled hatred he had and directed at me because we presented a constructive and compelling case in the affirmative. At the very least he has a serious personality disorder, and should not be the kind of person representing the general community.
The Liberal party is full of bigots, scum and 1950’s trash.
What else to you expect from Ex Nazi worshipers. It will only take a pen and a ballot paper to kill the Liberals. The Liberals are lucky we live in different times. We deal with great Evil such as Abbott in the Ballot box these days.
Terrific. A couple of neanderthal seat-warmers retain their cushy jobs. A NSW MLC must be the biggest bludge job in the country. That two vile, gay-hating scumbags continue to occupy places in the Upper House makes me puke.
May i give the Labour party a tip on what to say about the Liberal party.TONY ABBOTT is DANGEROUS.The LIBERAL PARTY IS DANGEROUS.(I’m sure you will be able to come up with the reasons why)I suggest repeating it numerous times and see the results.