[Greens-Media] O'Farrell keeps religious right content - turns his back on support for Mardi Gras

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
3 October 2008

O'Farrell keeps religious right content - turns his back on support for Mardi Gras 

NSW Coalition leader Barry O'Farrell refusal to back financial support for Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the latest example of his pandering to the religious right that still dominates sections of the Liberal Party, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said today. 

"Mr O'Farrell has made a bad blunder in turning his back on support for the Mardi Gras, an event people love and that provides an annual boost to the NSW economy," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Events NSW chief executive Geoff Parmenter has stated that there will be financial support for the annual Mardi Gras, which annually generates about $30 million of direct economic benefit in NSW.

"If the leader of the opposition cannot publicly declare his party's support for the Mardi Gras it sends a damaging message about the Liberal's policy stance on relationship equality and other key sexual diversity rights campaigns.

"Mr O'Farrell should be providing clear leadership on these issues. 

"The religious right faction in the Liberal Party was active in the recent local government election, and its members including Upper House MP David Clarke still wield considerable power," Ms Rhiannon said.



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