Peter Dutton called on the Essendon Football Club to reappoint Andrew Thorburn as its CEO after the former banker stepped down one day into his tenure amid controversy over the views of his church.
The federal opposition leader and his state counterpart, Matthew Guy, on Wednesday painted Thorburn’s resignation as a form of religious persecution.
The short-lived tenure of former banker Andrew Thorburn (far left) as CEO of Essendon Football Club has attracted comment from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.Credit:The Age
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews reiterated his criticism of the City on a Hill church’s views on abortion and the LGBTQ community on Wednesday after Guy labelled the resignation “ridiculous”.
Thorburn, the former boss of National Australia Bank, was appointed as the AFL club’s new chief executive on Monday, but resigned a day later following criticism of his role as chairman of the conservative church, which is part of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.
Addressing Thorburn’s short-lived tenure, Dutton said “I think there has been a very egregious attack on an individual because of his religious beliefs.”
The federal opposition leader said while the views of a pastor at the church about gay people and the issue of abortion were an abomination, Thorburn had distanced himself via his comments and actions.
“I’m very deeply concerned about the development in relation to this Essendon situation and the dismissal, frankly, should be reversed, and Mr Thorburn should be reappointed to his position,” he said.
Shortly after Thorburn’s appointment, public attention was drawn to sermons published on the church’s website in which other leaders of the organisation likened abortion to a concentration camp and said practising homosexuality was a sin.
Thorburn has said he did not personally share all the views aired by the church.
Guy said Andrews should not be telling the Bombers who to appoint as chief executive after the premier commented on the furore on Tuesday.
“What are we now banning people from going to church, banning people from going to a synagogue, banning people from going to a mosque? This is ridiculous,” Guy said on 3AW on Wednesday.
Responding to Guy’s criticism, Andrews said on Wednesday he had simply answered a question and had been a long-standing supporter of LGBTQ and abortion rights.
When asked whether Thorburn’s resignation showed people with conservative religious beliefs needed to hide their opinions in a public role, Andrews said: “No. They might want to have a think about whether they want to be a bit more kind-hearted. A bit more inclusive. Aren’t we all God’s children?”
On Tuesday, Andrews said the appointment of the CEO was a matter for Essendon, but criticised the church’s views, saying “there are many reasons to be a somewhat disappointed Essendon supporter”.
Andrews added that he would renew his Essendon membership, and he did not have a role in Thorburn’s appointment or resignation.
As Essendon begins the search for a new chief executive, former president Paul Little also criticised the club’s current management, while prominent employment lawyer Josh Bornstein said Thorburn could have a legal case for religious discrimination.
Essendon president David Barham said on Tuesday he asked Thorburn to choose between his positions at the church and Essendon after the club learnt of the church’s sermons. Barham said the church’s public views were in “direct contradiction” to the Bombers’ values.
Thorburn released a statement online on Tuesday evening which said he was being asked to compromise “beyond a level his conscience allowed”.
“Today it became clear to me that my personal Christian faith is not tolerated or permitted in the public square, at least by some and perhaps by many,” he said.
“People should be able to hold different views on complex personal and moral matters, and be able to live and work together, even with those differences, and always with respect.”
Little, who led the Bombers during the supplements scandal from 2013 to 2015, said he felt the pain of Essendon supporters after a tumultuous period which included a late, ill-fated bid for Alastair Clarkson to replace Ben Rutten as coach, which led to the latter’s departure.
Thorburn’s predecessor, Xavier Campbell, also left the club following Rutten’s sacking, while former president Paul Brasher departed the board alongside ex-players Simon Madden and Sean Wellman. Peter Allen will also step down in December.
Paul Little in 2015 in his then role as Essendon president, with then coach James Hird.Credit:Eddie Jim
“The mistakes that are being made — there are just too many, quite frankly,” Little told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“We all want, as supporters and members, we want a professional Essendon Football Club that is well run and well managed.
“And to be quite honest, when Paul Brasher was chair and Xavier Campbell was CEO, I think there was a high level of faith in that level of professionalism. At the moment, that seems to be missing.”
Bornstein also said on ABC Radio Melbourne that Thorburn could have a legal case for religious discrimination against Essendon.
“Based off [media reports] there’s a prima facie case of religious discrimination,” Bornstein said.
“If you say our values are that we don’t want to employ people who are gay or don’t like having women working for us who are pregnant ... then your values or your contracts or policies may run headlong into discrimination law.”
Bornstein said Thorburn’s resignation was similar to Israel Folau’s sacking from Rugby Australia after the rugby star expressed homophobic views on social media, which he said were his religious beliefs.
Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli told 3AW he would not renew his Essendon membership, as there had been “a rejection of so many other people of faith by their actions”.
“I think there is a very genuine question of the religious expression of someone being very seriously undermined in their employment and in their future prospects,” Comensoli said.
Comensoli said he was not homophobic, but he didn’t accept gay marriage “as a sacrament of the church”.
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2022-10-05 08:14:32Z
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