Coopers loses bottle after Bible Society row

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie says he feels let down after today’s backdown by Coopers over a same-sex marriage video.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie says he feels let down by Coopers, describing the Adelaide-based brewer’s backdown over a Bible Society same sex marriage video as a “craven capitulation”.

The Bible Society video featured Mr Hastie and his close friend and colleague Tim Wilson discussing their opposing views on gay marriage over a Coopers beer.

Coopers has since pledged to join Marriage Equality Australia and distanced itself from the Bible Society after facing an activist-driven rejection of their products.

Pubs in Sydney have thrown out Coopers Beer and LGBTI advocates have condemned the company.

In an extraordinary video apology managing director Tim Cooper and director of finance and corporate affairs Melanie Cooper said they would cancel a planned commemorative can design to mark the 200th anniversary of the Bible Society.

“What do they have to gain by backing down like this?” Mr Hastie said.

“They were subjected to online bullying and mass outrage and unfortunately they took counsel from it.

“This is the spirit of the age. You can’t even endorse a civil, respectful conversation between two disagreeing friends about an important issue.”

Mr Hastie said he and Mr Wilson were very close friends.

“The relationship on camera is authentic,” he said.

“We talk regularly about this. My 20-month-old son’s favourite book was given to him by Tim. This is not some Bible Society construed Trojan horse.”

Mr Hastie said The Australian’s editorial cartoonist Bill Leak, who died last week, would have done the irony of the boycott justice. “His pen and brush would have summarised all this in a great cartoon,” he said.

Mr Hastie yesterday posted a photo of himself in front of a Coopers advertisement with the caption: “Facing a beerless future ruled by the totalitarian twitterati... #Bleakview”.

He said he was trying to channel Leak’s humour. “Bill’s spirit was to take the piss,” Mr Hastie said.

Publican turned Liberal MP Craig Laundy says he finds it ironic that the same sex marriage lobby used the potential for vilification as an argument against holding a plebiscite, but boycotted a Coopers brewery sponsored video depicting a respectful debate of the issue.

“I find it ironic that at the time of the discussion about the plebiscite it was said that for those that were in favour of same sex marriage, there wouldn’t be a respectful debate and they’d be vilified,” he said.

“The Bible Society have given a platform for two federal politicians to have a sensible discussion about the debate. Coopers had nothing to do with it.

“If you read the statements that the Bible Society put out, they are supporters of the Bible Society but weren’t aware of the video being made.

“For that lobby then to turn around and go off like a two bob watch, I get the issue is important to them, however, you’ve got to conduct yourself in a sensible and reasonable fashion.”

Mr Laundy said as far as he knew the Coopers was still flowing at the string of pubs his family owns in Sydney.

“I’ve left the business, but I don’t think that Dad’s taken it off overnight,” he said.

Former human rights commissioner Mr Wilson, who has been a vocal supporter of same sex marriage, said the boycott showed there was a section of society that is intolerant of a difference of opinion.

“I don’t think it’s inconsistent to support an organisation like the Bible Society and be a supporter of marriage for same sex couples,” he told the ABC.

“There are plenty of people who are religious leaders who read the Bible regularly and support a change in the law.”

Liberal backbencher Eric Abetz said the outcry over the Coopers-sponsored video showed the absolute intolerance of those who most seek to preach tolerance.

“The bizarre reaction to the video, including a boycott of Coopers Brewery because my parliamentary colleagues happened to be drinking their beer in the video, is just the latest demonstration that the political correctness brigade is out of control,” Senator Abetz said.

“While I am disappointed Coopers pathetically backed down in their support for the Bible Society and immediately paid go-away money and joined Australians for Marriage Equality, there are clearly bigger issues at play here — this dogmatic approach from the left of Australian politics who feel that they can shout down and destroy anyone with whom they disagree.

“The fact that an intolerant and outspoken minority continue to bully and harass hardworking and decent people and businesses is concerning.

“While of course these left-wing social justice warriors are entitled to free speech people shouldn’t be afraid of calling out their hypocrisy and demanding a more civil and respectful discourse.”

Mr Wilson said he and Mr Hastie had been approached by the Bible Society to have a discussion about same sex marriage.

“The focus of it was how to have constructive disagreement and to disagree without being disagreeable, because there is enough of that in society, and let’s be frank, we jumped at the chance to demonstrate how civil discussion should be had.

“I think people often think parliamentarians fail at that task. That’s why we took the opportunity, but as somebody who also supports a change in the law, I thought it was a good way to get a conversation directly to people who may not always be able to engage with this issue.”

The Cooper family would like to release the following statement in support of diversity and equality: https://t.co/xODZxwfCMR pic.twitter.com/g3cPMZE3rw

— Coopers Brewery (@coopersbrewery) March 14, 2017

Mr Wilson said he strongly disagreed with the boycott.

“I think it’s a sign that there is a section of society that’s very intolerant of a difference of opinion on an issue like this today, and I think it speaks to the point of the video which is to have respectful disagreement,” he said.

“Both sides were presented very respectfully with a sense of humour.

“I think this response has been way over the top. It shows just how easily people use the idea of being offended today down to boycotting companies when they haven’t done anything wrong, when their product was simply used as a prop as part of showing how you have a robust discussion.”

Mr Wilson also reiterated his call to replace “offend, insult and humiliate” in Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act with “harass”.

The issue is expected to be raised in the Coalition party room when parliament returns next week.

“Harassment is something that nobody should have to experience,” he said.

“It’s a standard that exists in law that’s well established, but also makes sure that we can discuss and debate controversial issues and ideas but make sure that people can’t then use them to intimidate or silence others.”

In the solemn video released last night, Dr Cooper said the board and senior staff at Coopers were “incredibly saddened by the impact our involvement with the Bible Society has had on our ­valued Coopers drinkers and our extended family”.

He added the company had been a philanthropic supporter of many organisations.

“Our company’s guiding ­principles have centred around respect for others and as such the recent activity surrounding the video made by the Bible Society has conflicted with our core ­values. Coopers never intended to make light of such an important issue and would never and did not approve the making release of the Bible Society video debate,” he said.

Ms Cooper said the company supported marriage equality.

“Offence has been taken by our recent involvement, for which we are deeply sorry. We’ve listened to a range of community views,” she said.

LGBTI community advocates celebrated the company distancing itself from the Bible Society.

“Thank you so much to every individual and venue who stood up and made themselves heard,” advocate Jason Ball said in a statement last night.

He added he didn’t think it was necessary to cancel the Bible Society commemorative cans but said “I do understand however that a partnership with an organisation that are anti marriage equality, such as the Bible Society, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.

Watch the Bible Society video below