Abbott鈥檚 Mardi Gras shame
Tony Abbott refused to condemn police for their treatment of the first Mardi Gras protesters in 1978, a Sydney Star Observer investigation has found.
Minutes of a 1978 Sydney University student representative council executive meeting show the federal Opposition leader not only refused to condemn the arrest of the 53 protesters, but voted against the council communicating its criticism of police to the then NSW government.
The information comes as Abbott attempts to smooth over his relationship with the gay and lesbian community after claiming last month he felt threatened by homosexuality.
The student council meeting occurred three days after the 1978 protest. The motion put forward by member Lesley Podesta proposed:
鈥淭he executive condemns the unprovoked and unnecessary police violence against those involved in the Mardi Gras on June 24th at Kings Cross. That this SRC actively supports and promotes equal rights for all lesbians and male homosexuals.鈥�
Abbott, who participated in other motions during the meeting, left the room for the vote. It was passed unanimously in his absence.
Abbott returned to cast the lone dissenting vote on a subsequent motion, 鈥淭hat this motion be conveyed to the Premier and Attorney-General.鈥�
Of the then executive, a number are deceased while others contacted by SSO are senior public servants and unwilling to make public comment.
SSO put questions to Abbott about his recollections of the meeting, his feelings about the actions of police, and whether the Tony Abbott of 2010 would have acted differently. However, he avoided addressing these directly, simply responding, 鈥淚 would never support unlawful violence.鈥�
New Mardi Gras co-chair Steph Sands said she hoped Abbott had grown since his university days and invited him to attend next year鈥檚 parade.
鈥淲hether Tony Abbott deliberately avoided condemning the police action at the first Mardi Gras or was simply on a toilet break, we cannot say,鈥� Sands said. 鈥淗owever, if he did hesitate in recognising the utter unacceptability of unlawful police violence at the time, I trust he has become more enlightened since then. Otherwise we should be very concerned.鈥�
As an ex gay guy I applaud the sentiment but the behavior I despise. Since when did Australia become a heathen country. We are Christian. A proud heritage unlike the “life style” that so many these days would rather accept than confront for fear of offending and seeming intolerant. God is intolerant of our SIN. Let’s call it what it IS fellah’s our homosexual practice is a stench in the nostrils of Almighty God.
Oh Dear… Poor Mr Abbott.
Of course Abbot feels threatened by Gay Men, because really, would any man go for him??
I’m no friend of the Mad Monk, but I think Andrew Potts is drawing a long bow digging up this story – it was 32 years ago for gods sake! He’s done plenty for us to get upset about lately, let alone getting hot under the collar about something that a pimply post pubescent right wing almost-a-catholic-priest-uni-student did or didn’t do. I wasn’t particularly politically correct back then either.
This was a LONG LONG time ago. I think you would find many many people of his generation would have had similar thoughts. Just because we are gay does not mean that we all vote labour or green and personally I think this article certainly did not warrent a front page spot
Whatever the Rudd’s governments shortcomings, don’t be mislead into voting for this bigot!!!
Perhaps we should be grateful that Abbott is openly signalling how disgusting his government would be. Of course, Kevin Rudd is not exactly gay-friendly. He just happens to be the least worst option.
I remember 1978.
I was there at the riot that night.
I will never forget.
And I will NEVER forget Tony Abbott.
NEVER.
Slightly off topic, On the offical Liberal party website there is a question and debate asking: “Allow gay marriage”. Now if you support the idea of gay marriage, on the website there is a botton that you can click to indicate your support, now once 100 people support the idea the relevant Shadow Parliamentary Secretary will post a response. You do have to sign up and it only takes a a minute or so but I think its worth it to see what the response will be and the wording used. And yes I do know that the Liberal party is against marriage equality. Here is the link to the website:
this a fantastic article! i really enjoyed it. when i read something like this, i am so proud of the fact that SSO is our journal of record.
Once a right wing Christian bigot always a right wing Christian bigot? In Abbott’s case, YES
Now I’d like to see what those out gay Liberals say about all this – such as Shayne Mallard and Joe Hockey’s chief of staff, Andrew Kirk
The leopard does not change his spots
TORY SCUM.