Mamamia founder’s comments during discussion on The Project about NT sex offender register provoke furious response on social media

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Mia Freedman has apologised after comparing gay people to paedophiles on national television, saying it has created “heinous” headlines.

Freedman, founder of the independent women’s website Mamamia, made the comment during a debate about the Northern Territory’s plan to set up a public sex offender register, which she supports.

“I think what you want to do is keep children safe from people who have already acted on it and I think this [the public sex offender register] should be Australian-wide, I don’t think it should just be the Northern Territory … we accept that gay people can’t change who they love and who they’re sexually attracted to, so why do we think that people who are sexually attracted to children can be rehabilitated,” she said on Ten’s The Project.

“I just think, name and shame them – I want to know where they are.”

None of the three other panellists reacted to the comment, as the network cut straight to an ad break.

Freedman released a statement “unreservedly apologising” and attempting to explain the comments on Friday morning, saying she was “mortified”.

“Not because I have ever or would ever compare homosexuality to paedophilia – that idea is repugnant to anyone with an IQ above room temperature – but because I accidentally gave ammunition to haters and bigots and caused the words homosexuality and paedophilia to appear in the same sentence in headlines and a Twitter pile-on,” she wrote.

Freedman said she was trying to distil a complex issue into a 15-second grab and had failed. She said she knew there was no link between homosexuality and paedophilia and was trying to make the point that inherent sexuality could not be changed.

“Let me be absolutely clear: if I have upset, confused or outraged anyone who thought I would ever ever ever stand with bigotry or homophobia, I unreservedly apologise,” she wrote.

Freedman issued a swift but briefer apology on Thursday night after the outcry on social media.

Mia Freedman (@MiaFreedman) Lousy analogy on @theprojecttv . Apologies if it came across wrong.

Mia Freedman (@MiaFreedman) Mortified that I may have caused offence to some in the gay community who misunderstood my clumsily worded point in chat on @theprojecttv

Mia Freedman (@MiaFreedman) I am a longtime and fierce supporter of marriage equality and the LGBTQI community.

Criticism of Freedman continued, with some also taking offence at the wording of her apology, though others tweeted in her defence, including Mamamia staff.

Rebecca Sparrow (@RebeccaSparrow) I knew exactly what @MiaFreedman was trying to say tonight on @theprojecttv I hope she ignores the trolls.Her good intentions were obvious.

Robyn (@robygirl53) @MiaFreedman @theprojecttv I Didn't find it offensive I thought your point was relevant but it took a sec to realise it wasn't homophobic.

Alex (@alexriri) @MiaFreedman @theprojecttv Don't blame it on people misunderstanding, just acknowledge you said something stupid

Jarrah James (@jarrahjames) @MiaFreedman then what a shame you still allowed those words to leave your mouth. A real apology on air would be a way to show you are sorry

Thomas (@ThomasCarter90) @jarrahjames @MiaFreedman come on Mia own up and apologise properly. Already bad enough you said it.

Rodney Ward (@rodward71) @MiaFreedman As a member of the LGBTIQ community, I support u. Poor choice of words, yes. But I understand u weren't linking the two as one.

Tony Abbott has rejected the idea of a national sex offenders register and there is a lack of evidence that the idea is effective.

“What other governments do is a matter for them,” the prime minister said on Thursday.

“I am disinclined to pursue such a thing nationally. We don’t have a national murderers register. We don’t have a national thieves register. We don’t have a national white collar criminals register.”

The Australian Institute for Criminology has researched the effectiveness of Megan’s Law in America, which established a public sex offender registry, and found it was “developed largely as a response to community agitation”.

Key problems identified included under-reported acts of vigilantism, and potential discouragement of victims reporting intra-family abuse.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe, whose son Daniel was murdered by a convicted paedophile in 2003, are staunch supporters of a national sex offenders register as part of their campaign to protect children.