Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken out against the Respectful Relationships program that is taught in some Australian schools.
Appearing on Sydney radio station 2GB the Prime Minister was asked by Breakfast host Alan Jones if the content of the program “made his skin curl?”
The Prime Minster said it did. Morrison said he sent his daughters to an independent Baptist School to avoid them being exposed to the type of content contained in the program.
The Respectful Relationships program is offered in Victorian schools and is described it’s goal as to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours. Teaching children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.
Jones shared a role playing exercise used in the program where a student is asked to imagine what it’s like to be a young person who wonders if they might be a lesbian.
Outlining the role playing exercise in the program that involves a scenario of a fourteen year girl realising she’s attracted to other girls and might be a lesbian, Jones asked the Prime Minister “Does that make your skin curl?”
“It does Alan”, Prime Minister Morrison responded, “The values I has have a parent, Jenny and I have as parents, that’s where you get your values from. I don’t want the values of others being imposed on my children in my school. I don’t think that should be happening in a public school or a private school.”
The Prime Minister said he would be supporting the religious freedom that allows religious based schools to discriminate.
“That’s why I want to protect the religious freedom of independent schools, so that they can continue on providing at least that choice.” Morrison said.
The Prime Minister said state schools should focus on learning mathematics, science and English.
A report on Religious Freedom in Australia has been completed by former Attorney General Phillip Ruddock, but it’s contents have not been made public.
OIP Staff
