Federal Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews has cancelled his appearance at the World Congress of Families Conference this weekend.
The conservative group that fights against the decriminalisation of homosexuality and abortion had been struggling to find a location to hold their conference as multiple conference venues cancelled their bookings following widespread condemnation of the group.
The conference is now schedule to proceed at the ultra-right wing Catch the Fire Ministries. Minister Andrews has announced that he will no longer be attending.
The Minister released a statement arguing that he was attending the conference to show tolerance for different opinions.
“Tolerance is a critical value in a western liberal democracy like Australia.
“It was for this reason that I intended to address the World Congress of Families meeting in Melbourne tomorrow”. Andrews said.
Mr Andrew criticised The Greens and left thinking groups who had called for him to not attend saying that they had shown intollerance and tried to shut down the debate.
Mr Andrews has promised to release the speech he was going to give at the opening of the conference.
The conservative politician was honoured by the group earlier this week when he was declared ‘Natural Family Man of the Year’. Previosuly a similar award was given to Nigerian activist Theresa Okafor, who is a vocal supporter of Nigeria’s laws that punish same sex relationships with 14 years imprisonment.
Victoria’s Attorney General Robert Clark and right wing Liberal MP Bernie Flynn have also followed Mr Andrews lead and announced that they will no longer be attending the conference.
NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich had described Mr Andrews attendance at the conference as “deeply embarrassing”. In an letter to Mr Andrews the NSW politician argued that Mr Andrews support for the conference would undermine Australia’s important work on LGBTIQ human rights.
“Your attendance and endorsement of the WCF conference risks embarrassing Australia’s human rights record and is in direct contradiction of the work done by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in counties such as Uganda, Nigeria, and Russia to support their LGBTI citizens and advocate for fairer laws.
“The World Congress of Families supports a narrow and discriminatory definition of families, your attendance and support of them risks condoning their exportation of anti-LGBTI bigotry, ideology and legislation abroad.” Mr Greenwich wrote.
OIP Staff
