Family First National Director Lyle Shelton says a taxpayer-funded website that affirms paedophiles in their sexual attraction towards children must come down.
Mr Shelton today condemned the Albanese government for launching and defending the website that advises people with sexual attraction to children not to “beat yourself up,” treats child sexual fantasies as something to “manage like a wave,” and suggests the attraction cannot or should not be changed – comparing efforts to change it with historical attempts regarding homosexuality.
“There is no place in civil society for justifying paedophilia or for holding feelings of sexual attraction towards children,” Mr Shelton said.
“People with those feelings should be required to get immediate professional help, not told their condition is like homosexuality and cannot be changed.”
Mr Shelton said he has met many people who had feelings of unwanted same-sex attraction who were able to overcome this with professional support, the support of friends and community, and from asking for prayers – something so-called conversion therapy laws make illegal in states like Victoria.
He commended Liberal Senator Matt O’Sullivan for bringing the material to attention in Senate estimates hearings this week.
“It was disappointing to see the Attorney General Michelle Rowland defend the taxpayer-funded advice to paedophiles that affirms their perverse thinking as if it is something natural,” Mr Shelton said.
“This might have been a recommendation of the Royal Commission into institutional child sexual abuse but that doesn’t mean it should be implemented.
“Mums and dads don’t want paedophiles being told they can’t change.
“Dealing with perversion is always difficult but to say there no pathway to healing is to leave someone in a horrible addiction without hope. That is bad for the individual and poses unacceptable risks to society.
“The Albanese government must immediately remove this content from the internet. Protecting children must come first.”
