Aspiring Liberal MP Jane Fleming campaigns at church where, court ruled, her father Dr John Fleming abused trust of underage girl
An aspiring Liberal MP is campaigning at the very church where, a court ruled, her ex-priest father abused the trust of a girl before engaging in “predatory sexual behaviour”.
An aspiring Liberal MP is campaigning for parliament at the same church where, a court ruled, her ex-priest father met the underage girl whose trust he abused to engage in “predatory” and “morally reprehensible” sexual behaviour.
Holdfast Bay deputy mayor Jane Fleming is sponsoring community meals at St Jude’s Anglican Church, Brighton, in her bid for the seat of Gibson at next year’s state election.
It is the same church where her father, former priest Dr John Fleming, worked between 1969 and 1970.
It is also where, the Supreme Court ruled, he met a 13-year-old girl with whom he would go on to have repeated sexual encounters.
The Advertiser asked Ms Fleming and the Liberal Party whether they felt St Jude’s was appropriate place to campaign given the court’s ruling.
“I engage with local church and community groups as a councillor, resident, business owner and now Liberal candidate,” Ms Fleming replied.
“The signage program feeds those in need, so yes I think everyone should support St Jude’s community meals if they have the means.”
Liberal Party state director Alexander Hyde said Ms Fleming was “a passionate community advocate, councillor and local” of the electorate.
‘The Liberal Party was aware of these matters when selecting our candidate,” he said.
“We do not engage in the injustice of holding others accountable for the actions of friends or family, and we select our candidates on their own merits.”
In 2008 and 2009, The Advertiser reported allegations Dr Fleming – an Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism – had engaged in sex with minors and also a homosexual affair.
Dr Fleming filed a defamation lawsuit and called Ms Fleming as one of his witnesses but, after a 2016 trial, his claim was dismissed in favour of The Advertiser.
The court ruled the articles truthfully conveyed imputations that he had engaged in “sexual misconduct, predatory sexual behaviour, morally reprehensible and deceitful conduct, an immoral, adulterous homosexual affair, hypocrisy, abuse of trust, moral cowardice and false denial of sexual involvement”.
That judgment withstood subsequent appeals by Dr Fleming, who was banned from ministry and continues to deny the allegations.
He has authored a book critical of the SA courts that was launched by then-independent, now Liberal MLC Frank Pangallo and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
On September 5, Ms Fleming posted a photo of St Jude’s street sign to her campaign’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The sign reads: “God bless community meal sponsor Jane Fleming, Liberal for Gibson.”
It does not include the name or address of a Liberal Party official authorising its publication, as required by the Electoral Act for all advertisements containing any matter calculated to affect the result of an election.
Two days later, on the same accounts, Ms Fleming posted a childhood photo of herself and Dr Fleming to celebrate Father’s Day.
“A special mention (to) my dad, one of my biggest supporters,” she wrote in the caption.
Anglican Diocesan Registrar and Secretary of Synod Joe Thorp said St Jude’s did not consult with the Diocese before promoting Ms Fleming via the sign, “nor did it need to”.
He said the sign was “a simple thanks” that “changes regularly” to note the meals sponsor and “as such does not need to meet any requirements under the Electoral Act”.
Another meal sponsor, he said, was Labor MP for Gibson Sarah Andrews.
“The church has no position on Ms Fleming’s involvement in supporting the parish program whatsoever,” he said.
“The Anglican Diocese of Adelaide is on the record as having apologised and expressed its deep sorrow for historical child sexual abuse.
“Fr Fleming resigned from the Anglican Church in 1987.”
Mr Hyde said St Jude’s signage was “not ours”, and featured similar wording used for other sponsors.
“It would be open to anyone to lodge a complaint with the Electoral Commission,” he said.
“However the legalistic pursuit of a church feeding those in need would be distasteful in the extreme.”
