ACL’s Lyle Shelton Interviewed on Victoria and South Australia regional radio FlowFM about Safe Schools, Same-sex marriage, Freedom of Speech and the 2017 people’s vote. Originally aired on FlowFM 22/08/16

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Gay marriage remains a threat to freedom of speech.

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Victorians should not be surprised that the State’s badly crafted anti-free speech buffer zone laws have resulted in the arrest of a Melbourne mother of 13, says the Australian Christian Lobby.

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We are pleased to announce that Brendan O’Neill, Editor of Spiked Online, will be in Australia throughout August speaking at several events hosted by ACL.

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It is not 'homophobic' to believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and to wish to have the freedom to say this out loud, according to the Australian Christian Lobby.

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The announcement today by Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman that his Government was considering changing the State’s Anti-Discrimination Act to ensure freedom to express different views ahead of the marriage plebiscite, has been welcomed by the Australian Christian Lobby. 

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In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on freedom of speech and outdoor advertising. See below for links to mentions in the media.



On outdoor advertising:

• Christian Today Australia - 'Fat girls are harder to kidnap' slogan highlights need for action

ACL's Managing Director Lyle Shelton weighed into the debate about whether Australians should have the right to say things that are racially offensive in this week's Politics InFocus. Watch the interview below.







Bigotry & free speech: Politics InFocus - 04.04.14 from InFocus on Vimeo.

MEDIA RELEASE



For release: Sunday 2 February 2014



The Australian Christian Lobby has questioned the use of taxpayers' money to subsidise so-called art aimed at denigrating religion.



The South Australian Government and Adelaide City Council sponsorship of a Fringe Festival event entitled 'Come Heckle Christ' is inappropriate according to the ACL's South Australia spokesperson Dan Flynn.



The Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, was right to urge people to complain about the production, Mr Flynn said, and ACL would encourage its supporters to do the same.



"While ACL supports freedom of speech and most Christians are very tolerant when it comes to public attacks on their faith, 'Come Heckle Christ' had gone too far, particularly as it is partially funded by the public purse," Mr Flynn said.



"In a tolerant society there is room for disagreement and debate but respect for religion should be encouraged."



Mr Flynn noted that advertising material for the production described the crucifixion of Christ as a "fairy-tale" despite the fact that no serious historian believes that.

In an opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph this week author Ross Fitzgerald said that “freedom of speech has never been more threatened in Australia”.



He drew attention to the current Queensland government inquiry into sexualised outdoor advertising:

“If you're trying to get a message out in Queensland via outdoor advertising, don't say anything even vaguely sexual. As a result of pressure from the Australian Christian Lobby, the Queensland government has ordered an enquiry into whether there is too much sex on advertising billboards.If our democratic system is to survive, the right to speak the unvarnished truth needs to be nurtured, even protected.”



Whilst ACL would agree that freedom of speech is an important value in a democratic society, it is not an absolute right. It carries with it responsibility and boundaries. Children deserve to be protected from material in public that is likely to harm or disturb them. Freedom of speech should not override the freedom of the community not to be confronted by sexualised imagery or advertising that demeans others – mostly women.



The Australian Medical Association (AMA), The Australia Institute and even the Advertising Standards Board all agree that sexualised advertising is on the rise. The Australian Medical Association has identified that increasing numbers of children are focusing on an inappropriate sexualised concept of body image and that this impacts on their growth and physical functioning, including a reduced ability to think and learn. The AMA affirms that marketing and advertising contribute to this problem. The Australia Institute research found that this sexualisation contributes to an increased risk of sexualised and attention seeking behaviours at an earlier age. They conclude that “the sexualisation of Australian children in advertising and marketing is increasing and involves a wide range of risks to children”. It is clear that the welfare of children should take precedence over absolute freedom of speech in this context.

MEDIA RELEASE



For release: Saturday 5th October 2013



Advice from the commonwealth Solicitor-General that the nine people in the ACT Legislative Assembly trying to redefine marriage for the nation have overstepped the mark should bring the debate to an end.



Australian Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton said if a report in today’s Weekend Australian of legal advice to the Abbott Government is correct, then it was time to move on.



“This issue has had more than a fair go. There have been multiple Parliamentary inquiries and unsuccessful votes in federal and state Parliaments. An election was fought in part on Kevin Rudd’s pledge to legislate within 100 days,” Mr Shelton said.



“Labor’s worst primary vote in 100 years and the loss of 600,000 votes to the party of same-sex marriage, the Greens, demonstrates that voters are underwhelmed by this issue.



“Discrimination against same-sex couples in Australian law has long been removed and that is supported by the Australian people including Christian groups like ACL. There is no need to open up vulnerabilities to freedom of speech, freedom of belief and social justice for children by changing the definition of marriage.”



Mr Shelton urged the Government and the Parliament as a whole to take whatever action was necessary to protect the Commonwealth’s constitutional jurisdiction over marriage.



“I think the Australian people are becoming tired of the same-sex marriage lobbyists’ attempts to bring about legislation by fatigue. If they wish to persist with their campaign, they should put it to a referendum of the Australian people.



“Because of the consequences for freedom of speech, belief and the rights of children, all Australians should have a say if marriage is to be changed,” Mr Shelton said.



“There are more important issues facing the nation, such as the Government’s proposed cuts to overseas aid of $4.5 billion which was to go to our neighbours in extreme poverty.”