Katter's anti-gay marriage ad creates stir

Bob Katter's Australian Party is standing by advertisements attacking the alternative premier's views on gay marriage, as Katter's half-brother says the ads are 'disrespectful'.

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Bob Katter's Australian Party is standing by advertisements attacking the alternative premier's views on gay marriage, as Katter's half-brother says the ads are 'disrespectful'.

The ad asks how well voters know Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman, and features him repeating the words: "I support gay marriage".

Mr Newman personally supports gay marriage, but has shelved his beliefs as he leads a party that voted against Queensland's same-sex civil unions laws.

The party's state leader Aidan McLindon says he's received abusive messages over the ads but says they'll continue this week to highlight Mr Newman's confused position.

He's told ABC radio he can't think of any issue that Campbell Newman has had a solid position on.

KATTER 'ADMIRES' BROTHER'S CANDOUR

Bob Katter says he admires his gay half-brother for speaking out against him.

Carl Katter's comments came after the television commercial was released, in a statement, he said the ad was disrespectful.

"This ad ignores the high level of support for marriage equality in Queensland, and is totally disrespectful of the many gay Queenslanders who proudly contribute to their state every day of their lives," he said.

Bob Katter told the Network Ten he respected his half brother's position.

"I admire his candour, his forthrightness in coming forward," he said.

"I haven't had a lot to do with him down through the years, but I admire him for that."

Mr Katter said while his half brother might be hurt by his party's stance, there would be "many other people" who would be hurt by gay marriage.

The ads have sparked outrage among the gay and lesbian community and support groups.

Healthy Communities Queensland executive director Paul Martin has labelled Katter's party a "hate group".

"It's this kind of hate attack on the gay and lesbian community that contributes to rates of mental illness and suicide being four to five times that of heterosexual people," he said in a statement.

The ad asks how well voters know Liberal National Party (LNP) leader Campbell Newman, and features him repeating the words: "I support gay marriage".

It also features images of two shirtless men, and Mr Newman handling a skirt.

Mr Newman personally supports gay marriage, but has shelved his beliefs as he leads a party that voted against Queensland's same-sex civil unions legislation.

Katter's Australian Party state leader Aidan McLindon has received hate mail after the ads, but the LNP defector says it's mostly from people in his former party.

"It was from people I have known from the LNP and it's mainly been text messages on my phone," he told AAP.

He said the ad was not intended to be anti-gay, but to highlight Mr Newman's fence sitting.

"It highlights Newman's hypocrisy in saying one thing and doing another and highlights that this is not a conservative party at all," he said.




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Source: AAP


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