Mick Gatto backs lockdown-born Freedom Party’s school self-defence policy

A political party created by Covid lockdown protesters would introduce self-defence classes in all Victorian schools. What do you think?

Underworld figure and former boxer Mick Gatto has backed the policy of a political party — formed in the wake of Victoria’s Covid lockdowns — to provide self-defence classes to all schoolchildren in the state.

The Freedom Party, now registered with the Victorian Electoral Commission, came into being following the state’s lockdowns and vaccine mandates – what the party’s leaders consider an infringement of liberty under an “incompetent and corrupt government”.

Its deputy leader is Aidan McLindon, ex-Queensland LNP member, creator of the Queensland Party, and former national director of Katter’s Australian Party.

Mr McLindon left politics to become a teacher and then an education officer at Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, overseeing school wellbeing programs across the city’s south until he was dismissed for questioning the subject of vaccine mandates.

About a year ago, Mr McLindon met former Senate candidate Morgan Jonas, with whom he was like-minded in regard to small business policies particularly.

Freedom Party leader Morgan Jonas and deputy leader Aidan McLindon, who will stand against Premier Daniel Andrew in Mulgrave at this year’s state election.

Mr Jonas is the face of the website MCJ Report, which purports to provide “alternative views that otherwise would not be reported on the mainstream media”.

He was also involved with the Reignite Democracy Australia group that protested against Covid lockdowns.

From the pair’s meeting, the Freedom Party was born with Mr Jonas at its head.

The party intends to position itself as the official Opposition and run a candidate on every ballot across Victoria with the slogan “Jobs, homes, families”.

Among its policies, some of which are yet to be announced, is the Prep to Grade 12 learning of martial arts.

Mr McLindon said the proposal would “take some of the bubble-wrapping off our children”.

Mick Gatto said he supported the Freedom Party’s idea for school self-defence classes. Picture: Getty.

Mr Gatto backed the idea, calling it a “big step in the right direction”.

“I’m in support of the boxing and the physical education stuff,” he said.

“We were talking about what a great idea it would be to have boxing classes or any sort of martial arts at schools.”

He said the policy would “keep kids off their computers and avoid drugs and whatever, and it’d just be a big help for them”.

“It’d be self-defence firstly, and then keep them occupied in a way from all that other stuff.”

“I think he’s got all the right things at heart; he’s doing it for the right reasons,” he said of Mr McLindon.

Remaining in the realm of education, under the Freedom Party’s auspices gender politics would be minimised in school curriculums and from school responsibilities.

Mr McLindon called it “diabolical” that the state, through public schools, might have a greater say in children’s health than their parents.

“When you cut the parent out, you’re effectively making children subjects of the state,” he said.

“This is an absolute disgrace, it’s sickening, and it’s a complete direct attack on humanity itself.”

He said “sexual agendas”, especially at primary schools, were damaging “not only the sanctity of the home, but also the sanctity of the classroom”.

In regard to small businesses, the Freedom Party would exempt those with less than $10m annual profit from GST for 12 months.

The measure would be funded by a tax on large businesses which made more than $100m profit each year, from 2019 onwards.

The party also seeks to criminalise “cash for votes” preference deals in Victoria’s upper house, work with unions on agreed policies, and with Mr Gatto’s help, create and upgrade parks across the state to be autism-friendly.

Mr McLindon said the Freedom Party was appealing to the “rational majority”.

To those who labelled him ‘anti-vax’, he said: “They don’t know who I am, because I’m pro-choice”.

“My objective now is to clean out the dead wood in the parliament,” he said, “and to get an orchestrated agenda that puts 6.8 million Victorians first, and these self-interested people on the backburner, who in due course will face an inquiry for the damage they’ve caused upon the people.”