Victorian MP ‘misinterpreted’
Remarks by Frankston MP Geoff Shaw comparing love between members of the same-sex to child molestation have been described as “utterly disgraceful” by the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL).
Shaw’s comments were part of a written response to a local 20-year-old gay man who had emailed the Coalition MP objecting to his government’s plans to renew exemptions for religious organisations in the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act.
Representatives of Ted Baillieu’s government have today claimed the weekend media reports were a misinterpretation of Shaw’s beliefs.
University student Jakob Quilligan wrote to Shaw to argue that churches shouldn’t be able to impose their beliefs on others in non-religious/mainstream or secular settings because was concerned that he might one day have difficulty getting a job as a nurse or a paramedic if the organisation had a religious background. He asked that he be able to “love freely” without thinking that he can’t.
Shaw replied to his email by comparing Quilligan’s desires to that of a someone who wanted to abuse children.
“What if there was a convicted sex offender who stated that, or a child molester? Can they still do what they want? Under your statement the answer is yes.”
Shaw also argued that hospitals and welfare organisations like the Salvation Army and Red Cross had Christian backgrounds, and that most private schools were either Christian or Catholic.
“Are you wanting to put your values on these establishments just as you argue that you don’t want there [sic] values?” he said.
VGLRL co-convenor Sarah Rogan said there is a high probability Mr Shaw’s remarks come from fundamentalist ideology – the same ideology that has led to the attempted broadening of religious exemptions.
“We are stunned that in 2011, anyone can mention same-sex attraction and molestation in the same breath – and create distress for another human being,” she said.
Shaw is active in the Pentecostal church and raised eyebrows with his maiden speech to Parliament, in which he acknowledged “the original owner of the land on which we stand – God, the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible”.
The Premier’s office released a statement to Star Observer about Shaw’s email this afternoon; a government spokesman saying that impressions that were portrayed in the weekend’s media did not reflect the views of the Coalition Government.
“Geoff Shaw has sincerely apologised to Mr Quilligan for the offence he caused. The Government shares the same concerns as Mr Quilligan regarding higher rates of depression, anxiety, self harm and suicide attempts amongst young, same-sex attracted people,” the statement read.
Liberal MP Clem Newton-Brown said he’d spoken with his colleague yesterday afternoon and that Shaw said weekend media reports of the email exchange did not reflect his views.
Shaw has so far refused to answer direct media inquiries regarding the comments.
Opposition leader Daniel Andrews said he was appalled by the “highly-offensive comments”.
“There is no place in our society for such bigotry,” he said.
“It’s concerning we are still yet to hear from Mr Baillieu. Anything less than a public condemnation from Mr Baillieu will not be good enough in the eyes of every fair-minded Victorian.”
The VGLRL is calling on MPs from all parties – and representatives from all religions – to condemn Shaw’s remarks and the proposed religious exemptions.
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Tony,
I agree, I cannot understand why politicians are hiding. My husband has to attend work functions with the local members both State and Federal, and it is as though they are scared of what the electorate would do should they show public decency and support equality, even when they have gay relatives! I think part of the reason is they get letters all the time form the Australian Christian Lobby, and associated groups, and have developed a view that their hate is the normal view of real Australians.
It takes a lot more energy to be a bastard to people, then to show human decency and support equality.
I can’t see how Mr Shaw’s comments could have been misinterpreted. They were pretty unambiguous. I believe that once a religious organisation accepts Government money to provide services to the public, they should be bound by anti-discrimination laws like everyone else. This wouldn’t affect the religious roles within the organisation, because normal hiring “the best person for the job” would dictate that such people be of the appropriate faith. I see no reason why religious based organisations need any exemptions at all.
Similar goes with regards to providing services to the public. The organisations using public money to provide services should be made to provide to all without discrimination. If they can’t do that, don’t accept public money.
@Dave We’ve been in regional Victoria for nearly a year, and so far, no dramas at all, people just treat us like any other couple. Sounds like our experiences are the rule, rather than the exception. Politicians need to get in touch with real Australians who uphold traditional values such as the “fair go” in the context of equality for all, rather than historically entrenched discrimination. The average Aussie is way ahead of the average pollie.
“The question, therefore, is not whether a homosexual et al, can work in a hospital, school or the like successfully, but rather whether a religious fundamentalist can work in a secular position such as government. I say no.”
Cam – brilliant!
Attacking someone’s intelligence is not really the point here. Plenty of people in this world who are incredibly smart and homophobic.
There’s clearly no way to misinterpret what someone has so boldy put in writing and the response from our elected officials on this is disappointing for sure.
For me this raises a few issues/points of discussion.
How are MPs currently held accountable in terms of their employment?
As taxpayer elected representatives, they should be required to undergo training about the Victorian Human Rights Charter and Equal Opportunity. They shouldn’t just be put through their paces, they should understand the real consequences of abuse for everyone that these EO exclusions impact. (Single mums, divorcees, gay people) Public servants are required to go through this induction, if it’s not a requirement already, perhaps it could be made so?
What economic modeling has been done to show the impact on productivity re: reinstating these exemptions?
Especially considering the government has just announced funding to prevent youth suicide. Seems like a waste of money if young people like Jakob make it through their teens only to be discriminated against legally when they’re ready to contribute in a professional capacity. (Also noting here that a number of religious organisations are receiving public funds to deliver services)
And no government can stand by this type of announcement when even more damage might be done to an even broader group of marginalised individuals across the whole state.
Surely we deserve better?
Clem! How can the media have misrepresented his views??? They printed Geoff’s emails? Unless the media are also his Electorate Officers…?
Stop defending your homophobic party.
The words Mr Shaw wrote were exactly his thoughts. He has not been misinterpreted – for him to claim he has is both a lie and a fundamental (sic) contradiction of the teachings of his “church”.
As a fundamentalist-with-a-mission he is unable to differentiate between someone of alternate views who has conversion as their primary goal and one who otherwise just goes about life normally. There is nothing wrong with, for example, a Muslim teaching mathematics at a Christian college, though there may be something not quite right about taking a Bible class.
The question, therefore, is not whether a homosexual et al, can work in a hospital, school or the like successfully, but rather whether a religious fundamentalist can work in a secular position such as government. I say no. By not claiming his _extreme_ beliefs (such as the world being <6,000 years old) Mr Shaw has lied by omission to the people of Frankston and should be forced to resign – or quit his church and deny God.
Note, also his quite deliberate "Christian and Catholic" phrase – he does not believe Catholics to be Christian. And this is not a take in the Education Departments "Private and Catholic" categorisations of schools – which is a reflection of the large size, and special mandate, of the Catholic education infrastructure.
Geoff Shaw is an active member of the pentecostal church Peninsula City, a member of CRC Churches International, which aims to ‘cover the earth with churches’.
Another way to deal with this extreme right-wing Government is…Hit them in the hip wallet where it hurts.
I have cancelled my holiday to Melbourne, an intended shopping trip, in protest of this spiteful, Pentecoostal MP. the same goose-stepping MP who has captured heaven for himself..We don’t feel welcome there.
Give Victoria a miss for a visit or a holiday, it’s freezing there anyway at this time of the year, and your pecker will shrink from the Churchy cold. Alert your family and friends to avoid it as well.
Tell your family and friends overseas that they are not welcome in this black-book, frigid state.
Obviously, this MP from Frankston Victoria, has only one book in his Library, and is not fit to legislate for the people.
From memory this is the third recent example of blatant homophobia later explained away as a “misinterpretation”.
It is not sufficient for Shaw to apologise; words are cheap.
He needs to do something: ideally quit as member for Frankston and/or make a substantial personal donation to Quilligan’s organisation OUTthere.
This brings shivers to my spine – Comparing same sex lovers to child molestation? How dare he!
And he will defend his one brain cell, finga-likin-funda beliefs to the death. Preferably yours.
[…] SOURCE ↩ […]
“..child molestation by Frankston MP Geoff Shaw” ??
Eh? LOL.
Perhaps that should have been “Remarks by Frankston MP Geoff Shaw comparing love between members of the same-sex to child molestation..”
The extreme fundamentalist who have control of the Liberal National Party, have no clue how the community has moved on.
I have been with my husband for 10 years and live in country Victoria. We just got a block of land and are designing our house. Our new neighbours of our block invited us to a BBQ on Saturday, and all of the street turned up to welcome us to the area. There was even a Christian School principle and we all had a drink and had a great time. I have lived openly in so called “conservative areas” in the country and never had any problems. We also know of other couples, and people who are single, and have made the change from the city, without any fuss at all. Some even have children! We even know of a couple that runs a country pub in a tiny Dairy Farming area, and they are always full of people having a great time.
The fundamentalist that have infested Australian Politics are simply out of touch with real average Australians. They are only too happy to put us or Christians on a cross, and crucify all of us. These Evil people do not represent the Liberal/ National Party core values, or even the values of the Labor Party. They are over represented in political parties and they are destroying Australia. They are attacking our great ethos of a “Fair Go”. We must do all we can to stop them poisoning our country. We will never give up making this country that land of a Fair Go- the Australia that gives fairness, dignity and respect, regardless of your sexuality. We will together remove any person or obstacle, no matter how big they appear, from the road that leads to full equality.
Thanks Richard and Jack!
Dave – The Governor General has no jurisdiction in Victoria, we have our own Governor appointed directly by the Queen.
Dave, the Governor General does not have the power to remove state governments, that power is vested with the various state Governors. So in this instance, you would need to write to the Honourable Alex Chernov AO QC, Governor of Victoria.
He attends the church that only requires you have one functioning brain cell in order to be a member; of course, in his case they had to make an exception as he didn’t quite meet the entry criteria.
The Victorian Liberal National party must be condemned for taking no action against the Frankston MP who likened same-sex attracted people to child molesters.
Ted Baillieu is busy inflicting a rampage of terror, as his government strips away the rights of same-sex attracted people to work in a government funded charity, passing laws that allow people to be sacked simply due to their sexuality. You can work hard, stay late, and then be summoned and lose your job with no notice. You can be thrown out of your home and be bankrupted.
The Liberal National Party is infested with a swarm of religious zealots that seek to destroy our way of life. They are taking a baseball bat to all the things that made us great- our willingness to be a tolerant and an inclusive country. They want to destroy us.
If you value those that work in the soup kitchens, those that feed the poor and give them shelter, then please stand up for them. They need your help.
Send Ted an email saying how disgusted you are with his appalling human rights abuses of people in the GLBTI community.
[email protected]
It is also worth contacting the Governor General, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, and requesting she use her power to sack Ted Baillieu for his extraordinary human rights abuses in Victoria.
Which church does he attend?