News crews banned over civil union coverage
Queensland Speaker Fiona Simpson has banned television crews from state Parliament until August for broadcasting civil union protests inside the building in June.
During debate regarding the rollback of the state’s Civil Partnership Act and the announcement of forthcoming changes to Surrogacy Act on June 21, there were incredible scenes of community anger from the public gallery.
Throughout the evening there were chants of “Shame, bigots, shame!”, while another man cried out “We’re human beings, not animals”. The public were eventually ejected from viewing the debate to prevent further disruption and the protest was covered widely by the state’s media outlets.
According to a Legislative Assembly guide for camera operators tabled in Queensland Parliament in 2007, in the event of unparliamentary behaviour or disturbance on the floor, “the camera is to focus on the Chair or a slightly wider angle shot of the Chamber which incorporates the Chair and the Clerks but which does not show the offending incident.”
Ten News Queensland and the Nine Network Queensland both confirmed its news camera crews have been banned due to the incident.
Simpson, a controversial anti-gay Sunshine Coast MP, was announced as Queensland’s first ever female Parliamentary Speaker in March.
An advocate of so-called ‘reparative therapy’ for homosexuals, the Liberal National Party MP famously told state Parliament in 2002 that homosexuals could “grow into heterosexuality over time”.
The conservative Christian, who was previously the shadow minister responsible for communities and women, also encouraged people struggling with their sexuality to contact Exodus International, a Christian ‘ex-gay’ organisation that claims to be able to cure homosexuality.
Some political commentators suggested Premier Campbell Newman’s appointment of Simpson to Speaker was an attempt to ensure she did not embarrass the new government with any more of her extreme views on the floor of Parliament, as well as removing her say on policy.
You May Also Like
Was it about the protestors or was it an rather “ucomfortable” debate for this good Christian LNP speaker??
This is ridiculous. But as the article states “Some political commentators suggested Premier Campbell Newman’s appointment of Simpson to Speaker was an attempt to ensure she did not embarrass the new government with any more of her extreme views on the floor of Parliament, as well as removing her say on policy.” It has removed the biggest psychotic nuerologically destroyed bigot from having a say with any policies…
But QLD has always been behind the rest of Australian States & Territories.. But unfortunately it will stay that way until the voters of QLD research their competing parties policies more thoroughly before they vote..
ALL QUEENSLANDERS:
Take easy action now opposing the discriminatory removal of civil rights.
Click here, take action, then SHARE http://www.rainbowfamiliesqld.org/have-10-minutes-spare-get-involved/
The LNP in QLD has been called a nasty cult by an LNP member.I tend to agree. We all have the power to stop the damage this cult is causing, to lobby, to ring radio, to blog, to setup facebook pages, to lobby Warner Brothers Dreamworld from turning into Nightmare on Newman Street.
Well Queensland aren’t 30 years and a day behind the rest of the country for nothing.
Don’t forget 60% of Queenslanders voted for homophobe parties, the LNP and KAP.
Let’s just sit back and see how far behind the rest of the country they can get. Oh wait, they could have ‘re-education camps’ by then, we need to do something!
Exodus are no longer claiming homosexuality can be cured:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/07/07/leader-of-reparative-therapy-group-exodus-says-gays-cant-be-cured/
Michael.
We’re well beyond apportioning blame. The real question is “Now what do we do to minimise their impact?”
It’s not my fault…..I voted Labor!!
Oh dear queensland, look what you have elected! The nastiest state government in the country. Good luck, your’e gonna need it!
The NLP insults every indigenous person by flying the flag next to this woman.
Anytime the word “Christian” pops up, there’s trouble.
Trying to hide the truth of what is happening in Parliament from the public ………Shame
Is that the sound of jackboots I hear in the background?
Sir Joh B’Jelke-Petersen would be proud.
A sample of Australia under a coming federal LNP government?
Nothing says fascism like banning news crews from parliament.