MP lashes out at Libs

GAY independent Silvan MP Andrew Olexander has spoken out for the first time since his public expulsion from the Liberal Party in December last year.
Mr Olexander has spoken to one of Victoria’s leading gay and lesbian newspapers on what he believes to be the Liberal Party’s bigotry.
He said this was done in hope that the truth would finally come out about the party.
The first of three articles planned for the newspaper outline Mr Olexander’s time as a Liberal Party member and Parliamentarian in the State’s Upper House.
Mr Olexander said these articles would represent the true facts relating to the Liberal Party’s bigoted treatment towards him which party leader Robert Doyle had so far sought to hide, suppress and deny.
He said it was important that his story be told as it was unacceptable for significant elements within a major political party to behave in such a discriminatory manner. “If key decision makers in our society, who make rules about fair workplace treatment for the rest of the Victorian community can behave in such a way and get away with it, then what hope is there for those of us who rely on the law to protect us from intolerance in all of its forms,” he said.
Accusations in a metropolitan newspaper at the time of Mr Olexander’s expulsion that the Liberal Party was homophobic were rejected by the party.
At the time Liberal Party leader, Robert Doyle said he did not believe there was homophobia or bigotry in the party, and that to his mind the claims had never been substantiated. Mr Olexander said it was not his responsibility to hold the Liberal Party accountable for their unacceptable behaviour but it is for all Victorians to do so.
The Mail contacted the Liberal Party but was unable to get a comment before going to print.