‘Our children are loved and our children are cherished’… Senator Penny Wong, with daughter Alexandra and partner Sophie Allouache in 2011. Photo: Supplied
Finance Minister Penny Wong has condemned the Australian Christian Lobby over comments likening children of same-sex couples to the stolen generations, saying the group’s “bigotry” has no place in modern Australia.
Senator Wong, who is a lesbian, a mother and a Christian, said comments made on Tuesday by the the ACL’s managing director Lyle Shelton “demonstrated just how out of touch they are”.
Within hours of former prime minister Kevin Rudd announcing his change of heart on same sex marriage, the lobby group published a press release on its website saying: “The prime minister who rightly gave an apology to the stolen generation has sadly not thought through the fact that his new position on redefining marriage will create another.”
This new “stolen generation” would come about “because of the use of technology to sever a child from its biological parent in order that same sex couples could realise their desire to have children”, Mr Shelton later told the ABC.
The stolen generations refers to children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families under acts of parliament over several decades.
Asked about Mr Shelton’s comments on Tuesday afternoon, Senator Wong said “this sort of bigotry really has no place in modern Australia”.
“Regardless of his views on marriage equality, same-sex families exist and we have children,” Senator Wong said.
“Our children are loved and our children are cherished and they deserve far more than the sort of peddling of prejudice we’ve seen.
“I don’t think the ACL speak for all people of faith in this country.”
Senator Wong welcomed Mr Rudd’s change of position on marriage equality.
Of the 71 Labor MPs in the House of Representatives, about 40 support same sex marriage legislation, according to Labor backbencher Stephen Jones.
However, Mr Jones, who has been one of the most vocal advocates of changing the law to allow gay couples to marry, doubted Mr Rudd’s announcement would change much in this parliament.
“The only thing that’s going to change the issue in this parliament is if Tony Abbott allows a conscience vote,” Mr Jones said.
Author: Jonathan Swan
Publication: The Age
Publication Date: May 21 2013