Liberal senator Cory Bernardi and senior minister Eric Abetz, who are listed in the conference program as supporters, also confirmed they won't be attending the event. Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews was scheduled to open the conference in Melbourne this weekend. Credit:Glenn Hunt Mr Andrews issued a statement on Friday announcing he had decided not to attend the conference after learning it would be hosted by the far-right Catch the Fire Ministries. "Tolerance is a critical value in a western liberal democracy like Australia. It was for this reason that I intended to address the World Congress of Families meeting in Melbourne tomorrow," Mr Andrews said in the statement. "The calls for me not to attend demonstrate the intolerance of the Greens and the left - instead of arguing their case in the public arena they seek to shut down debate."

"Equally, I cannot support intolerance from other quarters. As I have been informed today that the event is now to be hosted by Catch the Fire, I have decided not to attend." The political arm of Catch the Fire Ministries is the Rise Up Australia party led by Danny Nalliah. Mr Nalliah sparked controversy when he linked the Black Saturday bushfires to Victoria's abortion laws, which he said allowed the slaughter of innocent children. The party is also against multiculturalism. Mr Andrews said he would not be giving interviews about the matter. He later released the text of the speech he planned to deliver to the conference. Minister's withdrawal a 'cop out' Mr Nalliah said Mr Andrews' withdrawal from the conference on the grounds that it was being hosted by his organisation was a "cop out".

"I think the real reason that he is pulling out is because of the protests," he said. "I think you just look for a scapegoat to try and get out of the situation. I'm not surprised in that sense because our politicians are gutless." Mr Nalliah said several senior Coalition figures had addressed Catch The Fire functions in the past. He said as prime minister John Howard had recorded a message for a Catch The Fire event, while former treasurer Peter Costello and former deputy prime ministers John Anderson and Mark Vaile, as well as former governor-general Peter Hollingworth had spoken at Catch The Fire functions while in office. A spokeswoman for Senator Bernardi, who is listed on the event program as attending, said he notified organisers on July 9 that he was unable to attend. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the leader of the government in the Senate, Senator Abetz, who is listed in the program as supporter, never planned to attend.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott appeared to reprimand Senator Abetz earlier this month after the minister attracted widespread criticism for drawing a link between abortion and breast cancer when asked about his involvement in the conference. Victorian Coalition MPs cancel plans In Victoria, Mr Clark's attendance had been the subject of much politically criticism given he the state's first law officer. He also made homophobic comments in parliament early in his political career. A Napthine government spokesman said because the event was now being hosted by Catch the Fire, Mr Clark would no longer attend the conference. "The Attorney-General had previously been scheduled to attend the conference on behalf of the government to provide a welcome to Victoria to international and interstate attendees," the spokesman said.

"It is regrettable that some in the community have sought to prevent the conference proceeding at its original venue. In a democracy such as Victoria, all people are entitled to express their views within the law, and those who disagree should respond with argument and debate rather than by trying to prevent others from gathering to express their views." Controversial state Liberal backbencher Bernie Finn, who was due to speak at the conference, has also pulled out of the event, and retiring Liberal upper house MP Jan Kronberg is no longer attending. Mr Finn's office on Friday said that he had made the decision to withdraw from the event "a couple of days ago", however a spokeswoman would not be drawn on why. Ms Kronberg was billed to chair a session with Louise Kirk the UK Co-ordinator for Alive to the World character education: "Sexuality - a gift for Life". Ms Kirk is a critic of sex education condemning the "threat of gay marriage" on the classroom curriculum and warning that "current sex education is already laced through with the homosexual agenda".

With less than 100 days before the Victorian election, some in the Coalition were angry that a senior minister had been scheduled to attend the conference. In June, Victorian Premier Denis Napthine ruled out doing preference deals with the controversial Rise Up Australia Party, saying the Liberals "won't be doing deals with extremist parties". Earlier on Friday, Victorian Deputy Opposition Leader James Merlino called on Mr Napthine to "grow a spine" and ensure no state government MPs attended. Mr Merlino, who voted against abortion reform in 2008, said the group spewed hatred and homophobia and should not be attended by any federal or state ministers. In Canberra this week, the Senate passed a motion from Greens senator Larissa Waters calling on all MPs not to attend the World Congress of Families event.

Senator Waters' motion condemned the congress because it "is responsible for spreading homophobic and sexist prejudices around the world ... [and] is responsible for spreading harmful myths, including linking abortion with breast cancer". Opponents of the World Congress of Families have vowed to block attendees from getting into the conference on Saturday, although they do not know where it will be held. At least three venues have cancelled plans to host the conference, but Melbourne organiser of the function, Babette Francis, said she had offers for new venues "coming out her ears", including some offered for free. She said more than 400 people had registered for the event, with requests still pouring in. Victoria Police said it had been working with the organisers of the conference, who had expressed concern about large numbers of protesters intent on disrupting the conference.

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