Powerful members of the Liberal Party’s right wing added their support to an anti-Safe Schools forum in Bendigo this week, an event which heard allegations the anti-bullying program sexualises young people and deprives parents of authority over their children’s learning.
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It is understood the Tuesday night event at the Bendigo Baptist Church was one of a number of recent forums across the state at which the Liberal faction hoped to recruit new party members.
The group is targeting conservative Christian churches, Probus clubs and migrant communities, demographics that are not yet politically mobilised.
Marcus Bastiaan, a member of the Liberal party's administrative committee, was among the 40 attendees, as was his pro-life campaigner wife, Stephanie.
Another Liberal member in attendance was keynote speaker Ivan Stratov.
The infectious disease doctor from Melbourne spoke against the Safe School program, and shared his opposition to abortion, marriage equality and dying with dignity.
Dr Stratov ran as a Family First candidate in the 2010 state election and although unsuccessful, his preferences helped the Liberal party candidate unseat Labor incumbent Kirsty Marshall.
A Liberal party source said Mr Stratov and his supporters were taking advantage of Safe Schools’ unpopularity within these communities to convert prospective members and swing the party further to the right.
It is understood the conservative faction does not consider lower house seats in Bendigo within reach at the next election. Instead their focus is on bolstering Liberal chances in the upper house at the next statewide vote.
Bendigo councillor Julie Hoskin attended the session alongside former councillor Helen Leach.
Cr Hoskin said she was not aware of the event's connection to the Liberal party and that she attended to hear what speakers had to say.
The councillor, who said she was not affiliated with any political party, believed the Safe Schools program sexualised children and took away a parent's choice about what their child was taught.
"I've listened to both sides and I don't see anything healthy coming out of this, especially when children aren't developed or aren't mature enough to be able to handle what's being said to them," she said.
"You send kids to school to learn the three Rs, their learning skills for life."
Her view was shared by two speakers visiting from Melbourne, both mothers uncomfortable with their children being taught LGBTI-themed content at school.
The Victorian government, which now funds Safe Schools after the federal government abandoned the program, has repeatedly said the anti-bullying program does not sexualise children and was instead an effort to makes schools more inclusive of LGBTI students.
Asked about the meeting, Bendigo Baptist Church associate pastor Dave Gillett said the church was not aware of its connections to the Liberal Party.
The church was not affiliated with any political party, he said, though it had hosted election candidate forums in the past.
Even though the forum was advertised in the church’s newsletter, he also said the institution did not have a position on the Safe School program.
"I suspect the church would want to leave it with the schools, as opposed to trying to interfere there too much," he said.
Ms Leach was also contacted but did not reply before deadline. The Bendigo Advertiser was unable to reach Mr Stratov.
Mark Kearney
Journalist. Traveller. Pop culture connoisseur. Mark is passionate about education, the arts and social justice, especially stories affecting the LGBTI community.
Journalist. Traveller. Pop culture connoisseur. Mark is passionate about education, the arts and social justice, especially stories affecting the LGBTI community.
