[Greens-Media] Howard must defend women from un-Australian sect -Greens

[Burling, Adam (Sen B. Brown)]

Saturday 2 September 2006

Howard must defend women from un-Australian sect -Greens

The Prime Minister today (see Sydney's Daily Telegraph) invited Muslims
to adhere to the Australian ethos of equality for women.

Greens Leader Bob Brown has responded by calling on Mr Howard to insist
that an extreme Christian sect which admires him as the "right" or
righteous leader, stop oppressing women.

"The Exclusive Brethren pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into
pro-Howard campaigns and get favours in return.

Two weeks ago the Government blocked a Greens motion for a senate
inquiry into their 'un-Australian' activities.

Senator Brown said in Hobart today that the Exclusive Brethren:

	*	ban married women from the workplace - un-Australian.

	*	ban all women from jobs where they are not subservient
to men - un-Australian

	*	ban unions from workplaces under Howard's IR legislation
- un-Australian

	*	ban all children from university education -
un-Australian

	*	forbid voting and military service - un-Australian.

"This misogynist sect is more un-Australian than all but the most
extreme minority of other faiths. But it is fostered by Mr Howard,"
Senator Brown said.

"Mr Howard is practising double standards. On the one hand he accepts
huge backing from the misogynist Exclusive Brethren. He favours them
with legislative exemptions. On the other hand he attacks "small
sections" of the Islamic community that "are resistant to integration"
and demands they reform," Senator Brown.

Further information: Prue Cameron 0408 473 379