NSW government threatens to withhold funding after Cumberland Council bans same-sex parenting books

Premier Chris Minns has labelled a Western Sydney council’s decision to ban books on same-sex parenting books a “joke” and has called on them to repeal the decision.

Premier Chris Minns has labelled a Western Sydney council’s decision to ban books on same-sex parenting books a “joke” and has called on them to repeal the decision.

The NSW government has threatened to withhold funding to a Sydney council over its decision to ban the books, in a move the Premier said treated the LGBT community like a political football.

Councillors at Cumberland City Council, in Sydney’s west, voted earlier this month in favour of banning the books, in a motion pushed by former mayor and Labor member Steve Christou.

The Premier called on the council to reverse the ban.

“I just think the whole thing is ridiculous. I mean it’s a library, you can choose to read a book or not, it seems to me to be engineered by one of these councillors because there’s an election coming up, but what a joke,” Mr Minns said.

Premier Chris Minns at a press conference on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“He should trust his own citizens enough to walk into a library and read whatever the hell they want.”

Mr Christou, now an independent, moved “that council take immediate action to rid same sex parents books/materials in council’s library service” as part of its library strategy in the coming years.

At the council meeting, Mr Christou brandished a book called ‘Same-Sex Parents’ which features two men and a child on the cover, which he said he had received complaints from parents over.

His amendment was supported by six councillors including himself and opposed by five others.

A motion to rescind the ban will be tabled at the next council meeting.

Former Cumberland City Council mayor and current councillor Steve Christou. Picture: Toby Zerna

The move drew a fiery response from Arts Minister John Graham, who on Tuesday declared the state government would potentially withhold funding from the council over the action.

“When civilisations turn to burning books or banning books it is a very bad sign. That is equally true for local councils,” he said.

“It is up to readers to choose which book to take off the shelf. It should not be up to local councillors to make that choice for them or engage in censorship.”

Mr Graham confirmed the state government was analysing whether it would continue to fund the council’s libraries following the move.

“We are examining the consequences this decision may have for the council continuing to receive library funding from the NSW Government.”

Mr Christou fired back following the statement from Mr Graham, accusing the Labor Party of focusing on ‘culture wars’ instead of cost of living pressures.

“Ultimately, the Labor Party need to start standing up for their residents,” he said.

Arts Minister John Graham. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“People are struggling to pay for the mortgage, groceries and bills (and) here we have the Labor Party indoctrinating itself in the culture wars.”

Mr Christou said he the action was reflective of what the “deeply religious” community of the council area wanted.

“We represent a community where roughly 60 per cent of the population were born overseas,” he said.

“They hold deep family and religious values, regardless of whether they’re from a Catholic, Orthodox, Islamic or Hindu background. More elected representatives should do that (represent their community) and Australia would be in a better place.”

“I think it’s disgraceful for a Labor state government to now threaten to withdraw funding based on the decision of a council and their ideologies.”

Mr Christou and fellow councillor Joseph Rahme earlier this year pushed for drag queen story time to be banned at Cumberland libraries as part of a motion for the council to reject “drag or sexualised material designed to target children”.

Cumberland City Mayor Lisa Lake, who voted against the book ban and speaking in a personal capacity, said the state government currently puts $700,000 a year to their libraries. “I’d ask the Minister to confirm his concerns directly with us – it may indeed encourage the councillors who supported this ban to reconsider their response,” she said.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as NSW government threatens to withhold funding after Cumberland Council bans same-sex parenting books