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Why I joined Australian Conservatives

By Lyle Shelton - posted Thursday, 8 February 2018


Last year's plebiscite convinced me to make the switch to partisan politics.

The consequences that flow from changing the Marriage Act illustrate the lack of common sense and principle in Canberra.

Watching a Coalition Government tear itself apart over something as basic as whether marriage is between one man and one woman helped me realise Australia's traditional conservative parties are desperately lost.

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The Coalition Government's inability or unwillingness to protect basic human rights including those of freedom of speech and freedom of religion – tipped me over the edge.

That a Liberal-National government could not or would not protect the freedom of speech and religion of almost five million Australians stunned me.

This is not the Australia I grew up in. It is not common sense.

Australian Conservatives is the only political party committed to the values we took for granted as a nation up until this point in our history.

Social policy for both sides of politics has largely been handed over to the Green Rainbow Left. Politicians who should know better, apart from a few notable exceptions, have simply capitulated.

As a result of their silence, elites are telling us we are "bigots" if we don't support teaching children that their gender is fluid.

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Elites label us "deniers" – likening us to despicable holocaust deniers – if we merely question anthropogenic global warming.

We just have to cop the high cost of electricity while governments shut down power stations, leaving an uncertain future.

And we are not allowed to ask why because that is to be a "denier".

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This is an edited copy of the speech Lyle Shelton gave in Toowoomba when it was announced he was joining Australian Conservatives.



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About the Author

Lyle Shelton is Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby based in Canberra.

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