House debates

Tuesday, 8 November 2016

Constituency Statements

Safe Schools Coalition Australia

4:10 pm

Photo of Michael SukkarMichael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Since the election of Daniel Andrews as Premier of Victoria at the end of 2014 as part of a very hard-left, ideologically-driven Labor government, I have received a great deal of feedback from concerned parents about the growing incursions of the state in the teaching of their children. Nothing is more crucial for parents than their right to share their values with their children and to be able to trust that the state will not try and usurp their parental responsibilities. But thanks to a trend towards radical indoctrination in the school classroom under Labor, this is here in full force.

The first example is what we have seen described by the Andrews government as the safe schools program. The program is nothing more than twisted, ideological indoctrination promoting gender fluidity and a warped and highly troubling view of sexuality. Arguing that schools should not have separate boys and girls toilets and that male students should work girls uniforms, and vice versa, is just a small taste of that program.

In Victoria, the Andrews government has refused to accept any of the changes proposed by the Commonwealth program to curtail these disgraceful messages. Labor is instead pushing forward with the full rollout of the program to all public schools, including highly sexualised gender role-playing which many adults would be uncomfortable participating in, let alone young children. In Daniel Andrews and Labor's Victoria, school counsellors are not welcome in schools, but radical feminists have the red carpet rolled out for them.

Photo of Joanne RyanJoanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Absolute rubbish!

Photo of Lucy WicksLucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! Member for Lalor.

Photo of Michael SukkarMichael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

To make matters worse, Labor is now pushing yet another ideologically-driven program along similar lines. The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships program, like all these programs with a lovely title, seeks to teach children under 10 about male privilege and how masculinity encourages control and dominance. I am not kidding; this is taught to children under 10.

At the cost of $21.8 million, Labor is pushing ahead with the rollout of this program despite a report into its trial that said it risks alienating men by suggesting that all men are bad and all women are victims.

Ms Ryan interjecting

Photo of Lucy WicksLucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Order!

Photo of Michael SukkarMichael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Proposed lessons introduced students to the concept of privilege—described as:

… 'automatic, unearned benefits be stowed upon dominant groups' based on 'gender, sexuality, race or socio-economic class'.

Some of the interjections opposite highlight how scary it is that some of these people were teaching our children just a few years ago. Thank God the cloak is off and you are here and your disgraceful views can be seen for what they— (Time expired)

Photo of Lucy WicksLucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! Before I call the next speaker—

Ms Ryan interjecting

Member for Lalor, you are warned. I have asked several times for you to cease interjecting. I will not hesitate, under standing order 187, if I have to call you one more time, to ask you to remove yourself from the chamber.