Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Yesterday while we were apologising for institutional child sexual abuse, your federal Liberal Party colleague, the odious Senator Alex Antic, accused the ABC of 'grooming' over the reading of a book that tells young women it is okay to wear pants. This is the latest in a long line of vile hate speech from Liberal representatives, including Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler, towards transgender people. Senator Antic, a vocal advocate for the Australian Christian Lobby, is sending out the message that he does not think young girls should be wearing pants. Apparently, he wants them to wear skirts or dresses. This is arguably grooming.
Do you acknowledge this ideology as harmful to members of the LGBTI community, as well as being harmful to efforts to combat child sexual abuse? Will you be a voice of reason and publicly condemn those elements of your party that push this harmful ideological agenda?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I must say that I was not aware of the comments you point to for myself around that. My view is our young people can wear whatever they like, frankly.
Ms O'Connor - Well, condemn your colleague.
Mr ROCKLIFF - They can express themselves however they like. At face value - and I have not seen the comments or the context - I would say that the views of myself and indeed the person you mentioned, do not align in any way, shape or form.