Charlie Lynn says sorry
State Liberal backbencher Charlie Lynn apologised on Tuesday for making allegations of pedophilia against an unnamed minister of the Carr government.
The allegations, made immediately after the government’s age of consent legislation passed the Legislative Council in May, were denounced by the premier and the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, among others. Lynn had claimed that a senior government minister had had sex -鈥� and subsequently robbed -鈥� a 15-year-old boy.
I am well aware of the fate that has befallen other members of parliament from both sides of the political divide who dared to attempt to expose the evil of pedophilia in our society, Lynn told the Legislative Council on Tuesday. They have been publicly condemned because the evidence that they produced was later discredited. The information in my possession advised that the evidence in this case had been corroborated by the head of the police Child Protection Agency.
But later in his speech, Lynn said he had been misled on the matter and he regretted any distress or undue concern that might have been caused to any person.
Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Somali Cerise said there was no excuse for Lynn’s allegations in the first place and that he should be sacked from parliament.
What we see over and again in these situations is politicians resorting to homophobia, she said. Throughout the age of consent debate we saw many things to divert attention from the real issues, based on homophobia, and this was one last desperate attempt.
Cerise also rejected an assertion by Liberal leader John Brogden that Lynn had acted responsibly by not revealing the name of the minister in question.
Regardless of whether [Lynn] named the minister or not, it was a diversionary tactic and was very irresponsible, Cerise said.
Lynn told state parliament he intended to make no further public comment on the matter.
