Dean Of Sydney Attacks Decision By A.b.c. (Press, 8 August 1984)
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Summary: Dean Of Sydney Attacks Decision By A.b.c. (Press, 8 August 1984)
On 8 August 1984, the Very Rev. Lance Shilton, the Dean of Sydney, expressed strong opposition to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) recent decision to extend employee benefits to de facto partners of homosexual employees. In a sermon delivered at St Andrew’s Cathedral, he argued that Australians who uphold the sanctity of marriage would disapprove of the ABC's choice to allocate federal funds to provide entitlements to homosexual partners, alongside existing provisions for de facto heterosexual partners. Dean Shilton described the ABC's actions as "absurd," stating that such benefits contribute to the community's acceptance of what he termed "sodomy" as a legitimate lifestyle. He voiced concerns about the growing difficulty for everyday Australians to discern right from wrong, a situation he attributed to the increasing prevalence of anti-discrimination measures. Shilton stated that many people are becoming cynical towards legislators and public servants who, in his view, misuse their positions to seek special privileges based on what he labelled immoral relationships. He urged Australians to raise their voices against what he described as "moral corruption in high places." In a provocative statement, he suggested that if anti-discrimination laws lacked a moral foundation, it could eventually lead to individuals in polygamous relationships claiming similar benefits for multiple spouses. The ABC had announced its decision on 2 August 1984, revealing that it would treat homosexual relationships the same as heterosexual ones concerning staff entitlements, including bereavement leave, removal costs, and accommodation arrangements in remote locations. According to ABC's chairman, Mr Ken Myer, this decision was part of a broader equal employment opportunity programme. This sermon by Dean Shilton reflects the societal tensions of the era regarding LGBTQ rights and the evolving discussions around marriage and partnership recognition in Australia.
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