Premium Content:

John Howard baffled by Safe Schools program

johnhoward

Former Prime Minister John Howard has weighed into the debate over the Safe Schools Coalition.

- Advertisement -

The 76 year old, former Liberal leader, said he was “baffled” that the anti-bullying program had been approved for use in schools and is taken seriously.

Mr Howard gave an extended interview to SKY News journalist Peter van Onselen and The Australian’s editor at large Paul Kelly.

The interview was published in The Australian and featured on the program ‘Australian Agenda’. This week marks 20 years since the Howard government came to power.

Mr Howard said discussions about sexuality and gender should be undertaken by parents

“According to our culture and our society, those matters should be discussed by parents with their children,’ Mr Howard said.

Mr Howard said he sympathised that bullying is a critical problem for children as well as their parents, but said there are better ways to address it.

‘You don’t need to be pursuing such a social agenda as the document is clearly pursuing in order to deal with bullying,’ Mr Howard said of the Safe Schools Coalition.

The former PM was critical of opposition leader Bill Shorten’s characterisation of backbencher Cory Bernardi as a homophobe.

‘To say that anybody who is alarmed about this ‘Safe Schools’ booklet is a homophobe, really Mr Shorten? You are so out of touch,’ Mr Howard said.

OIP Staff

 

 

Latest

Broadway hit musical ‘Anastasia’ to Premiere in Australia in 2025

The production is scheduled for a Perth season in 2026.

On This Gay Day | Legendary DJ Walter Gibbons was born in 1954

He made his mark in NYC in the 1970s.

New tool to help people experiencing homelessness

Find My Way has been launched and provides a portal to essential services.

The hilarious ‘The Play That goes Wrong’ is coming back

It's one of the funniest shows we've ever seen.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Broadway hit musical ‘Anastasia’ to Premiere in Australia in 2025

The production is scheduled for a Perth season in 2026.

On This Gay Day | Legendary DJ Walter Gibbons was born in 1954

He made his mark in NYC in the 1970s.

New tool to help people experiencing homelessness

Find My Way has been launched and provides a portal to essential services.

The hilarious ‘The Play That goes Wrong’ is coming back

It's one of the funniest shows we've ever seen.

Ricky Martin leaves the west coast off his tour itinerary

If you want to see the Latin superstar book a ticket to the east.

Broadway hit musical ‘Anastasia’ to Premiere in Australia in 2025

The production is scheduled for a Perth season in 2026.

On This Gay Day | Legendary DJ Walter Gibbons was born in 1954

He made his mark in NYC in the 1970s.

New tool to help people experiencing homelessness

Find My Way has been launched and provides a portal to essential services.