This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/mar/01/tony-abbott-attacks-safe-schools-program-as-social-engineering
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Tony Abbott says Safe Schools LGBTI program's funding should be 'terminated' | Tony Abbott says Safe Schools LGBTI program's funding should be 'terminated' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former prime minister Tony Abbott has called for the immediate defunding of the Safe Schools program, saying it goes beyond its scope as an anti-bullying initiative. | Former prime minister Tony Abbott has called for the immediate defunding of the Safe Schools program, saying it goes beyond its scope as an anti-bullying initiative. |
| Abbott’s comments were reported in the Australian on Tuesday. | |
| “It’s not an anti-bullying program,” he said. “It’s a social engineering program. Its funding should be terminated.” | “It’s not an anti-bullying program,” he said. “It’s a social engineering program. Its funding should be terminated.” |
| The program was funded by Labor before it left office in 2013 but was officially launched in 2014, after Abbott had already become prime minister. Abbott did not scrap the program when he was leader of the Liberal party. | The program was funded by Labor before it left office in 2013 but was officially launched in 2014, after Abbott had already become prime minister. Abbott did not scrap the program when he was leader of the Liberal party. |
| Abbott is the latest conservative member of the Coalition to speak out against the initiative, which aims to stamp out homophobia and transphobia in schools. | Abbott is the latest conservative member of the Coalition to speak out against the initiative, which aims to stamp out homophobia and transphobia in schools. |
| Last week six Coalition MPs, led by backbencher Cory Bernardi, expressed their concerns about Safe Schools in the party room meeting, prompting the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to order a review of the program. | Last week six Coalition MPs, led by backbencher Cory Bernardi, expressed their concerns about Safe Schools in the party room meeting, prompting the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to order a review of the program. |
| Related: Malcolm Turnbull urges calm heads over Safe Schools LGBTI program | Related: Malcolm Turnbull urges calm heads over Safe Schools LGBTI program |
| Many say that the material presented to young children is hyper-sexual and inappropriate. Others say that it does not promote heterosexuality and urges young people to take radical measures to address their gender or sexuality concerns, such as chest-binding and penis tucking. | Many say that the material presented to young children is hyper-sexual and inappropriate. Others say that it does not promote heterosexuality and urges young people to take radical measures to address their gender or sexuality concerns, such as chest-binding and penis tucking. |
| At least one MP, the West Australian backbencher Luke Simpkins, thinks discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people is overstated. | At least one MP, the West Australian backbencher Luke Simpkins, thinks discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people is overstated. |
| “I have never met anyone that displays an extreme or irrational fear of homosexuality,” he told parliament on Thursday. “I have an army background and a sporting background and never have I met anyone who has such fears.” | “I have never met anyone that displays an extreme or irrational fear of homosexuality,” he told parliament on Thursday. “I have an army background and a sporting background and never have I met anyone who has such fears.” |
| Experts say LGBTI young people suffer greater levels of discrimination and higher rates of suicide and self-harm. | Experts say LGBTI young people suffer greater levels of discrimination and higher rates of suicide and self-harm. |
| The federal government has committed $2m a year over four years to the voluntary Safe Schools program, which has the broad support of the state and territory governments. About 515 schools across the country take part in the program. | The federal government has committed $2m a year over four years to the voluntary Safe Schools program, which has the broad support of the state and territory governments. About 515 schools across the country take part in the program. |
| Two eminent professors will undertake the Safe Schools review and will report back to the federal Department of Education on March 11. | Two eminent professors will undertake the Safe Schools review and will report back to the federal Department of Education on March 11. |
| The Liberal backbencher Ewen Jones has broken ranks with his party to outwardly support the program. | The Liberal backbencher Ewen Jones has broken ranks with his party to outwardly support the program. |
| “We must address it. No one committed suicide when I was a kid, because we could go home at three o’clock, you get past the bully, you could get home and it was over,” he told reporters on Monday. “Now, the bullying can be 24 hours a day and anonymous. | “We must address it. No one committed suicide when I was a kid, because we could go home at three o’clock, you get past the bully, you could get home and it was over,” he told reporters on Monday. “Now, the bullying can be 24 hours a day and anonymous. |
| “I don’t know any teacher who is going to sit down and talk about ‘tucking’ or anything like that. What they will do, what teachers and school principals will do, will take the bits of it that are relevant to their schoolchildren and they will make sure that what they’re saying to their schoolchildren is good and make sure that it’s appropriate.” | “I don’t know any teacher who is going to sit down and talk about ‘tucking’ or anything like that. What they will do, what teachers and school principals will do, will take the bits of it that are relevant to their schoolchildren and they will make sure that what they’re saying to their schoolchildren is good and make sure that it’s appropriate.” |
| Related: Why does the Australian Christian Lobby enjoy a privileged position in public debate? | Jeff Sparrow | |
| Labor initiated the program before it left office in 2013 but at least one member, WA senator, Joe Bullock, opposes it. | Labor initiated the program before it left office in 2013 but at least one member, WA senator, Joe Bullock, opposes it. |
| “This program is so narrowly focused on homosexual issues that it doesn’t provide the sort of balance one would hope,” he told the Australian last week. | “This program is so narrowly focused on homosexual issues that it doesn’t provide the sort of balance one would hope,” he told the Australian last week. |
| The Labor Senate leader, Penny Wong, told ABC Radio on Tuesday that she was disappointed that the debate around the program had become “nasty”. | The Labor Senate leader, Penny Wong, told ABC Radio on Tuesday that she was disappointed that the debate around the program had become “nasty”. |
| “I didn’t think people would have such an issue with their children being taught acceptance and tolerance,” she said. “The extent to which the hard right will go to perpetuate their views, and frankly, their prejudice, is a sight to behold.” | “I didn’t think people would have such an issue with their children being taught acceptance and tolerance,” she said. “The extent to which the hard right will go to perpetuate their views, and frankly, their prejudice, is a sight to behold.” |