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| Down Under |
| ADF charges member over Islam comments |
| 2013-04-22 |
| Bernard Gaynor, a former Senate candidate, says he was charged on Monday for discussing links between Islam and terrorist activity along with bringing the ADF into disrepute for comments on the military marching in this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. The Australian Army Reserve intelligence officer says it is "outrageous" for the ADF to charge him. "The Australian Defence Force is sending a message that intelligence officers cannot discuss Islam in any way, shape or form, unless they pass judgement that it is a nice, peaceful religion," Mr Gaynor said in a statement. A Defence spokesperson confirmed it had charged a Defence member related to breaches of the Defence Force Discipline Act. "Defence is providing support to the member," the spokesperson said in a statement. But Defence said it was unable to identify the member, nor comment more on the charges. Mr Gaynor said he was disappointed to be charged for noting the ADF paraded at the Mardi Gras in Sydney. "It saddens me that the ADF believes marching with groups that conduct sexually-explicit activity in front of children is okay but that it is somehow disreputable to point this out," he said. Mr Gaynor, a former KAP national general secretary, had his preselection on the Senate ticket in Queensland cancelled earlier this year after saying he did not wanted his children taught by gay teachers. |
| Posted by:tipper |