‘I’m getting really sick of this stuff,’ Victorian premier writes on his Facebook page in attack on NSW minister’s decision to ban film from classes

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has condemned a New South Wales decision to ban a documentary on gay parenting from high school classes, labelling the apparent controversy over the film “cruel rubbish”.

Students at one school that planned to screen the film, Burwood girls high, have also spoken out, saying they “pride ourselves on our support of diversity” and are “leaders in the push for equality and acceptance for all people”.

News Limited should watch Gayby Baby. They might learn something about respect | Penny Wong Read more

Andrews said he had taken his family to see Gayby Baby, an Australian documentary highlighting the unique and the ordinary challenges faced by four children with same-sex parents.

“But apparently the NSW government thinks it’s all too confusing and distressing a subject for high school students,” the premier said on Facebook. “I’m getting really sick of this stuff.”

It is understood 15 schools across Victoria will be showing the film, some in class and others as part of special events outside school hours.

The NSW education minister, Adrian Piccoli, on Wednesday directed schools across the state not to show the documentary during class time. Later that day Guardian Australia established that no parents of students at Burwood girls high had complained to the school.

“During school hours we expect them to be doing maths and English and curriculum matters,” Piccoli told 2GB Radio. “This movie is not part of the curriculum and that’s why I’ve made that direction.”

His orders followed a front-page story in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph which alleged there had been a “backlash from parents” over the planned screening.

A comment piece accompanying the story claimed there had been “numerous complaints” and argued that Piccoli should be sacked if he allowed the screening to go ahead.

As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity – in whatever form it takes School prefects

But the Department of Education confirmed later on Wednesday not a single complaint had been made by parents to the school.

Asked if Piccoli had been aware no parents had complained when he pulled the film, a spokeswoman for the minister said his decision “was not driven by complaints of any nature, but rather a need to adhere to policy and procedure, and for class time to be used to teach the curriculum”.

“The minister was made aware by the department, that departmental policies and procedures had not been adhered to in the school’s decision to screen the film,” she said.

“He directed the department of education that the film Gayby Baby must not be shown in school time so that it does not impact on the delivery of the planned lessons.”

The NSW premier, Mike Baird, said he supported the ban on the film. “I understand the intent of that is to provide an example of tolerance and that’s something I absolutely support,” he said. “Should it be in class time? No, I don’t think so. Should it be optional? Yes, I do think so.”

Prefects from Burwood girls high condemned the media coverage that contributed to the screening being stopped in a statement posted to Facebook. “As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity – in whatever form it takes,” they said.

“When it is considered that the LGBTIQ community has the highest rates of suicide of any population in Australia and experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues, we consider our support to be just one small step in creating better understanding in the community.”

The students said events were regularly held “which aim to support and celebrate the diversity of our school community”, including lunar new year celebrations and dinners to break the Ramadan fast.

“We consider ourselves leaders in the push for equality and acceptance – for all people,” they wrote.

The film’s director, Maya Newell, is an alumnus of Burwood girls high. “The film is not an advocacy film at all,” she said. “It is really just projecting the voice of children who are existing in our society.”

An activist group, Community Action Against Homophobia, plans to protest outside the Daily Telegraph’s office on Sunday over its coverage.

The film was to be screened as part of Wear it Purple Day, a campaign aimed at supporting LBTGIQ students.

Parents of students at the school told Guardian Australia they had been “delighted” at plans to show Gayby Baby. One parent, Genevieve, said parents were clearly advised they “had every opportunity to stop our children seeing it”.

“It’s PG-rated, and from what I understand it’s about families and parents and there’s nothing overtly sexual about it, or offensive.”

Nor was she concerned about the film being screened during class. “That’s exactly where they should be learning stuff like this,” she said.

The NSW opposition leader, Luke Foley, said by banning the film Baird “has sent a dreadful, heartless message to the many LBGTI families who enrich our tolerant, diverse state”.



“At the end of the day, our children need to live their lives in loving families free of discrimination - and every family deserves our respect,” he said.

Writing for Guardian Australia, the federal Labor senator Penny Wong said the need to show support for young same sex-attracted and gender diverse young people “couldn’t be greater”.

She said a survey of young LGBTI Australians had shown that 64% had been verbally abused, 18% physically abused and 16% had attempted suicide.

“Behind these statistics are stories of deep personal hurt. The young people and the teachers who work to reduce harm in our schools deserve support, not condemnation,” she wrote.

Statement from Burwood girls high school prefects: