Rainbow flag politically charged, said Celia Hammond, vying for Liberal preselection in Curtin

During conflict over the rainbow flag, former Notre Dame chief Celia Hammond asked for understanding despite calling it divisive.

Celia Hammond, who is firming up as favourite for Liberal preselection in the prized seat of Curtin. Picture: Supplied

The former Notre Dame University chief firming as favourite for Liberal preselection in the prized seat of Curtin — the electorate that voted 72.2 per cent in favour of gay marriage — described the Rainbow pride flag as politically charged and divisive but in 2017 intervened to ensure the student organisation at the Fremantle campus could continue to display postage-stamp sized stickers of the flag in its windows.

Celia Hammond, 50, condemned homophobia in her email to the Notre Dame Student Association in Fremantle on March 31, 2017, after persons unknown twice took down postage-stamp sized stickers of the rainbow flag from the student organisation’s windows.

She said that while Notre Dame University “does not endorse the rainbow flag, and does not approve it being displayed on any other parts of the University campus, the University it is not seeking for it to be removed from the two windows of the Student Association Office at this time”.

“The concerns here are that the display of the politically charged stickers on the property of the University could be viewed as an endorsement by the University of matters which are inconsistent with Catholic teachings, and that those who are trying to live their lives consistent with those teachings may feel threatened and/or confused by this,” she wrote in an email to then head of the Notre Dame Student Association in Fremantle, Dylan Gojak.

Ms Hammond is one of five candidates who will contest Liberal preselection on Sunday in the very safe seat held by former Foreign Affairs minister Julie Bishop. Ms Hammond is seen as the candidate head hunted by senior Liberals while foreign affairs specialist Erin Lyn-Watson, 33, is seen as Ms Bishop’s pick. Neither side has publicly endorsed a candidate.

The preselection battle intensified today when The West Australian published a 2013 tweet by Ms Watson-Lynn describing herself as “a non-Liberal voter”. Ms Watson-Lynn has been a member of the party since 2015.

Now Ms Hammond’s comments about the Rainbow flag threaten to create an opportunity for her opponents. In Western Australia, the highest vote in favour of gay marriage at last year’s postal survey was in Curtin.

“I appreciate the reasons as to why the stickers were placed on the windows by the Student Association — namely, to show that the Student Association is a place of inclusion, support and of welcome for all,” Ms Hammond wrote Mr Gojak, who later joined the Australian Labor Party and is now a member of the Liberal Party.

“It was not intended to be divisive nor was it intended to be a political statement. Not only do I appreciate the reasons, I fully support these reasons,” Ms Hammond wrote.

“I also understand the legitimate concerns some people have about the rainbow sticker being placed on the windows of the Student Association offices, given the way this particular symbol has been used to represent a political statement or to advocate a particular social agenda, some of which is inconsistent with Catholic teachings.

Ms Hammond also told Mr Gojak, now a member of Curtin’s Labor division: “I also recognise, with deep regret, that it is possible that we have people within our Notre Dame community who hold homophobic views, such views being inconsistent with our Catholic teachings.

“While I believe the symbol is divisive, and the University does not support all that has come to be associated with the Rainbow flag, the University does not condone the sticker being deliberately taken down in the way that it was. This only aggravates the situation and has the potential to cause additional distress.”

Ms Hammond then forwarded that email to all staff, explaining that before she came to her decision not to ban the stickers, she sought counsel.

“I am sure you will all appreciate that this is difficult to manage in a way that is pastorally appropriate and sensitive for all,” Ms Hammond told staff in her email, sent the same day as she wrote to the student association.

“I have sought advice and counsel widely, and I have also spent a lot of time trying to discern what is the best way to deal with it. I appreciate that there will be people who do not agree with the course of action I have taken, and I welcome hearing your thoughts, advice and comments. Above all else, I do ask that everyone, irrespective of their faith, beliefs, views, opinions, approaches this with mercy, compassion and understanding of all and for all.”