Dickson ditches LNP, clarifies position on anti-Islam group

Division Six Coast councillor Christian Dickson has clarified his position years after he cut ties with LNP in response to community calls for him to go independent.

DIVISION Six Councillor Christian Dickson has clarified his position on a controversial community group which rose to prominence in 2015.

 

The regional planning portfolio holder approached the Daily in September, 2022, to clarify his position after he had previously spoken of his interest in a group which rose to prominence for its anti-Islam position back in 2015.

Christian Dickson has announced his defection from the LNP to become an Independent. Picture: Contributed

"I'm more interested in just getting things done," Mr Dickson said back in October, 2015.

It came as Mr Dickson's interest in Sunshine Coast Safe Communities, which had been piqued some time ago, continued to grow.

"I've been really interested in this whole debate," he said.

"I thought well why not actually turn up at these meetings.

"The group's not racially motivated at all."

The Sunshine Coast Safe Communities website offers the following response to a question of what would happen if a mosque were to be approved on the Coast.

"The mosque-invaded community becomes more vulnerable to the demands of Islamic exceptionalism. The cohesiveness and unity of all groups begins to suffer and wilt under the steadily increasing pressures of Islamization," the website reads.

It tells those with political influence to "use it (influence) for the betterment of your nation and your grandchildren's future".

Mr Dickson said he was not a member of the group, but was "just part of the furniture".

"These people share many of my concerns," he said at the time.

"I'm afraid of what I see globally."

He said he didn't want to see everything he loved about Australia "whittled away" for future generations.

But in September, 2022 Mr Dickson sought to clarify his position.

"I don’t agree with my comments and I don’t feel that way," he said.

"My biggest regret was saying 'I felt like part of the furniture', and of course turning up at all."

Mr Dickson said on reflection what he meant to say was that he sat there and listened "like a piece of furniture" and he had not felt comfortable or integrated with the group's views.

"Whatever excuses or conclusions I draw, I want to publicly apologise for my comments and any hurt I have caused our diverse community," he said.

"I regret portraying things like this and even being involved at all. It’s not who I am today and it’s not how I feel."

Mr Dickson said he was "embarrassed and remorseful" reading his comments from 2015 as they did not reflect the values he had today.

"For me, it’s taken seven years to finally come forward at admit that I could’ve handled things better and been a better human being," he said.

Sunshine Coast Safe Communities announced it would be supporting candidates at the March 2016 council election in Divisions Four, Seven and Eight.

Originally published as Dickson ditches LNP, clarifies position on anti-Islam group