Family First gets NSW MLC
Family First has a presence in the NSW Parliament for the first time following the defection of the former Christian Democrat, Gordon Moyes, to the party.
Moyes was expelled by the Christian Democrats in April following years of simmering tension with the Rev. Fred Nile, but remained in the Legislative Council as an independent.
Moyes had criticised Nile for his “extreme fundamentalism” and an “anti-Muslim and anti-gay” obsession, writing on his website that these views were out of step with mainstream Christianity in Australia.
However, in practice the difference between Moyes and Nile on the issue of sexuality is largely rhetorical.
Moyes is currently running a petition opposing full adoption rights for same-sex couples in NSW, following a recommendation for reform by the NSW Parliament’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice in July.
“The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby has ramped up the pressure on NSW Members of Parliament to remove the right of adopted children to have a mother and a father,” wrote Moyes in October.
“The leading gay and lesbian newspaper, the Sydney Star Observer, is vigorously advocating Members of Parliament to introduce same-sex adoption legislation.”
Family First opposes gay and lesbian adoption, IVF for lesbians and the recognition of same-sex couples as anything greater than de factos.
With the addition of Moyes, Family First now has five representatives in Australia’s state and federal parliaments.
However, ABC elections analyst Antony Green has written that splitting the Christian vote in NSW may dash both parties’ hopes of seeing more of their number elected to Parliament.
Nile attracted 9.1 percent of the vote on entry into politics in 1981. The CDP vote now sits at around 2 percent.
Family First achieved a primary vote of less than 1 percent in NSW during the 2007 Federal election.
In related news, the Christian Democrats will field nine candidates in the Bradfield by-election in an attempt to maximise their vote, while Nile has announced he will retire from politics at the end of his term in 2015.
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Religion has no place in politics. Politicians are employed by tax payers who dont all share the same religious beliefs.
It’s good to see the animosity between Families First and CDP. Long may it continue. But there needs to be reform of the NSW Upper House (that is if we have to have one) – urgently. MLCs have eight year terms for doing basically sweet FA! What a bludge of a job! Moreover, it’s scandalous that religious fanatics like Nile can have so much power with such a small percentage of the vote. No, let’s not reform it, get rid of it.
Stupid bastards. They refer to themselves with Family related names, implying gays and lesbians are anti-family. Everyone belongs to a family, which in reality has a broad context. It’s scandalous that these arseholes can get away with anti-gay rhetoric, immune from anti-discrimination laws because it is in the name of religious belief.
I had a look at FF policies just recently and they are JUST AS BAD as the ACL. So in fact “Family first” should be called “putting gay families last”!
Oh Gordon. You still think Christians Hate Groups that molest children, and abuse them, are better at looking after them where we are.
You would prefer that, and some child rot in an orphanage rather then a loving family look after them.
You and Fred are of the same ilk. We had a Sorry Day where everyone did not want your type of filth to look after any children again. Churches have failed badly. Even the research shows they are terrible at raising children.
While we go up the stairs to Heaven, we promise not to pull faces while you and your Evil go back to Hell.