Outrage over gay hate election flyer linked to Senate candidate

Australia Post in Tasmania has blocked the distribution of a flyer vilifying gay and lesbian people, apparently created by Tasmanian independent candidate for the Australian Senate Andrew Roberts.

Around 38,000 copies of the flyer were set to go out from post offices across the state when senior Australia Post staff were alerted to its content and halted their distribution.

Titled “Know the Truth” and bearing Roberts’ name, image and Senate campaign details, the flyer makes bizarre and damaging claims about homosexuality, particularly relating to the children of same-sex couples.

“These children will grow up witnessing multiple same sex partners and all the other things associated with this type of perverse lifestyle. Furthermore the chances that they would not be sexually abused by their ‘parents’ and social associates are extremely slim,” the flyer states.

The flyer also links homosexuality to drug abuse, calls for the re-criminalisation of homosexuality in Tasmania, and describes a vast homosexual conspiracy involving Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and “Hollywood”.

“This agenda is pushed by a controlled worldwide media that pushes this lifestyle under the guide of ‘equality’ all the time sending out signals for the acceptance of same-sex marriage,” the flyer continues.

“These are the people in control of TV broadcasting stations, many of whom are living these lifestyles themselves and employ like minded people, all the time undermining non-Christians and Christians alike.”

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome (pictured) has referred the document to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, calling on other Tasmanians to lodge formal complaints.

“I call on Tasmanians who receive this offensive material to show their support for a more inclusive Tasmania by lodging a formal complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Commission,” Croome said.

“I also call on Australia Post to ensure it never distributes this material or anything like it, not just because it is potentially illegal, but because it is divisive and destructive.”

Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Robin Banks said she has seen the flyer but has not yet received a formal complaint.

“It has to be capable of inciting emotion at the extreme end of the scale,” she told the ABC, saying it could be considered an incitement of hatred.

Croome said he will be making a formal complaint to the Anti-Discrimination Commission soon.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has said while it has no role in dealing with the content of electoral advertising, the AEC has to be informed as the source of any advertising to prevent anonymous material.

Roberts has not yet been identified as the flyer’s author, but the AEC has stated they would be contacting him.