NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell
In November last year, just before Premier Keneally prorogued Parliament, legislation was passed allowing schools to run ethics classes in competition with Special Religious Education.
The NSW Coalition, led by Barry O’Farrell, assured voters that, if elected on March 26, a Coalition government would abolish the controversial ethics classes championed by Education Minister Verity Firth and delivered by the St James Ethics Centre.
On Thursday the Coalition backed down, claiming the battle was over, and vowing to support the government in rolling out ethics classes across the state. Many who support Special Religious Education in schools, and who would have voted for the Coalition on this issue, are now left with no alternative but to register a protest vote against both the Government and the Coalition, which will result in stronger support for minor parties.
It is clear that Barry O’Farrell is in bed with Labor and the Greens on the issue of Scripture in schools, and he can expect a backlash from outraged voters on March 26.
Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 6 Feb 2011.
