Father’s Day Discriminatory?

Thursday June 1, 2008

Rev. Fred Nile - Media Release

The Rev Fred Nile, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has denounced a NSW Government Bill as another ill-conceived attempt at social engineering. The Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Bill, that is likely to come before Parliament next week, seeks to remove all reference to ‘fathers’ and ‘paternity’ from 57 Acts of Law so that Lesbian defacto partners may be afforded the same legal status as biological Fathers.

“The Iemma ALP NSW State Government has introduced another controversial homosexual Bill, which will amend 57 NSW Laws and remove all references to ‘Fatherhood’ or ‘Paternity’. The Government have claimed that they have done so because of concerns over equality and the rights of children that need protecting”, stated Rev Fred Nile

“The reality is, that in the haste to promote this latest attempt at social engineering, significant oversights have been made regarding the inherent problems within the proposed legislation. They speak of the rights of a child, but what of the child’s right to know who their father is. Surely every child has the right to have a Father in the first place? And what of Father’s rights? Shouldn’t biological Fathers, at the very least, have the right to be included on the birth certificate of their own child!?

And what about the proposed amendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act that now afford special ‘protection’ for Lesbian relationships despite the Act already having protection for Homosexuals? Who’s interest is this best serving, the child’s or the Lesbian adults? A possible unintended consequence could well make any public reference to Dads and Fathers an act of discrimination.

I pray we don’t see a day where a Father’s three-legged race at a School Carnival is cancelled because it is regarded discriminatory, or Father’s Day itself is cancelled. Fathers play a significant role in the lives of their children and the State should be doing all they can to support and encourage that role, not undermining it or that of the important role of parents, - a “mother” and a “father”.

This Bill claims to protect children and remove discrimination but in effect it does the opposite. It must be withdrawn so that its legal implications can be fully evaluated. Church leaders have also expressed their concern over this controversial Bill”, Rev Nile said. 

For Media Interviews contact:

Rev Fred Nile
(02) 9230 2478 or 0418 619 731

Research Assistant:
David Copeland
(02) 9230 2978