Faux pas: Bishop backs Wintour over Morrison in gay debate

Julie Bishop says Anna Wintour made some “pretty pertinent points” after her attack on the PM and Margaret Court.

Anna Wintour, left, and Julie Bishop at the Australian Open Inspirational Series Brunch in Melbourne yesterday. Picture: AAP

Julie Bishop yesterday said visiting American fashion icon Anna Wintour had made some “pretty pertinent points” after the powerful media executive launched an extraordinary attack on Scott Morrison and Australian tennis legend Margaret Court over gay rights.

While the former foreign ­minister backed the famously demanding fashion editor, Tony ­Abbott defended the Prime Minister, saying Wintour had her “facts wrong” and gave “ignorant lectures”.

“Like so many of you, I have been alarmed by your Prime Minister’s record on LGBTQ rights, which seems backward in all ­senses,” the British-born editor said in a keynote speech at the Australian Open Inspiration ­Series brunch.

COMMENT: Chris Kenny writes that Wintour’s ignorance has crossed line

She said the rest of the world “sang in celebration” with Australia at the passing of same-sex marriage two years ago, but singled out Mr Morrison over the rights of same-sex and trans­gender children in schools.

“That no one can be expelled from school for their orientation should not require clarification,’’ she said, apparently referring to unsubstantiated media reports about the government’s religious freedom review. “A government should protect its people, not make it unclear whether they will be accepted, and we are struggling with these issues in the US as well.”

Wintour also alluded to a change of government. “Fortunately, though, opportunities for leadership and change extend beyond the leaders of the moment,” she said.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says it was “a bit tacky” of the fashionista to speak out against the prime minister’s stance on gay rights.

“I thought it was a bit tacky actually, to be honest,” Mr Dutton told Nine’s Today Show on Friday.

“Somebody coming here to criticise, to make a statement that wasn’t factually correct anyway, is pretty shabby.

“I mean, she thrives on media and attention - good luck.”

Details of the government’s religious freedom review were released late last year and the government’s response was revealed exclusively in The Australian.

Concerns were raised in some quarters that religious schools could be allowed to expel students on the basis of their sexual orientation under a system of anti-discrimination exemptions strengthened by Labor when in government.

Mr Morrison said at the time that schools did not use the exemptions. “Our ­government does not support expulsion of students from religious non-state schools on the basis of their sexuality,” he said last year.

Anna Wintour, far left, watches the women’s semi final between Petra Kvitova and Danielle Collins with Nicole Kidman, her husband Keith Urban and Julie Bishop. Picture: Michael Klein

Ms Bishop, the former Liberal deputy leader who moved to the backbench after Malcolm Turnbull lost the prime ministership, was a guest at the event and fell short of supporting Mr Morrison.

“The whole theme of the day was about embracing equality and diversity, and I thought that she had some pretty pertinent points to make,” she told The Australian.

Wintour, the editor in chief of US Vogue since 1988, questioned why Margaret Court’s name still adorned one of the main stadium courts at Melbourne Park. Court won 24 grand slam titles, a record in women’s tennis that still stands more than 40 years after her retirement.

She is now a Pentecostal pastor and was criticised during the same-sex marriage debate for her outspoken stance against the reforms.

She has said “tennis is full of lesbians”, and that transgender children were the work of “the devil”.

“I find that it is inconsistent with the sport (of tennis) for Margaret Court’s name to be on a stadium that does so much to bring all the people together across their differences,” Wintour said.

“This much I think is clear to anyone that understands the spirit and the joy of the game: intolerance has no place in tennis.

“Margaret was a champion on the court, but a meeting point for players of all nations, preferences and backgrounds should celebrate somebody that was a champion off the court as well.”

Mr Abbott weighed into the debate in defence of the government and Court.

“First of all, I think she’s got her facts wrong because gay kids aren’t expelled from schools for being gay,” Mr Abbott said.

“There’s no evidence that it’s happening and there’s no one who thinks that it should happen. Second point to make is that Margaret Court is a distinguished Australian who is entitled to her views. And the third point to make is that when I go overseas, I try not to give ignorant lectures attacking other countries, and I think visitors to Australia should pay us the same respect.”

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, who is gay and a strong supporter of gay rights, was also present and said Wintour’s speech was “brave”.

“For somebody of her calibre to come to Australia and be so well researched about what’s happened here … I think it’s great,” Mr Joyce said.

“I had the pleasure of congratulating her and thanking her on the amazing work she’s done for the LGBTQI community.”

ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott, whose company sponsored the brunch, described it as a “lifetime opportunity for our … customers to hear publishing and fashion legend (and huge tennis fan) Dame Anna Wintour talk about leadership”.

“Her speech was bold, inspiring and charming,” Mr Elliott said.