Reverend Canon Glenn Loughrey forced to apologise over “totally insane” online rant

A Christian leader who called for all non-Aboriginal Australians to leave the country or face “extermination” has been appointed to lead reconciliation efforts in Victoria.

Victorian Anglican priest Canon Glenn Loughrey told non-Indigenous Australians they were “unworthy of welcome and residence” and demanded they leave the country of face “extermination” in an online rant. Picture: Facebook.

An Indigenous Christian leader who declared that non-Aboriginal Australians should “go back to where you came from” or face extermination has been appointed to help lead Victoria’s reconciliation efforts.

In a rage-fuelled online rant directed at the Prime Minister, newly appointed Aboriginal co-chair for taxpayer-funded Reconciliation Victoria, Reverend Canon Glenn Loughrey, proclaimed that all non-Indigenous Australians were “unworthy of welcome and residence” and bizarrely demanded they leave the country.

“We, the First Peoples of this land, who have given this country every opportunity to do the right thing, now declare that those who are not First People, are unworthy of welcome and residence and demand that you go back where you came from so we can heal country and ourselves,” he wrote on Facebook in February.

“If you fail to do so then further steps to exterminate you, as you did and continue to do to us, may be implemented.”

Reverend Canon Glenn Loughrey has since apologised for the rant. Picture: Facebook.

The shocking post, which Canon Loughrey has since deleted and apologised for, was prompted by Anthony Albanese’s admission that he was no longer focused on a 2022 election pledge to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full following the failed Voice referendum.

“At least we now know it was a cheap (not so cheap) political ploy to maintain the status quo for the white supremacist genocidal settler colonial bullshit that pretends to be democratic,” Canon Loughrey wrote.

“You deserve to lose the next election.

“Unfortunately, the alternative is worse.”

The senior Anglican priest later deleted the post, citing that “its content will be flagged and that people will use it against me”.

The rant was prompted by Anthony Albanese’s admission that he was no longer focused on implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full. Picture: Jason Edwards

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine labelled the rant “totally insane” as he called for Canon Loughrey to resign.

“He’s supposed to be for reconciliation but he says he wants to exterminate people,” he said.

“He wants to bring us together, but pack up all these supposed white, genocidal people and tell them to go back to where they came from.

“I think he needs to go and read the Oxford Dictionary and look up the definition of reconciliation.”

A spokesman for Reconciliation Victoria, however, defended Canon Loughrey’s appointment, saying they continued to “strongly support Uncle Glenn” and were proud to have him on the board.

“Uncle Glenn has confirmed that the social media post in question, which was posted prior to his appointment, does not reflect his views,” he said.

“It was written in anger, regretted, and deleted.

“Uncle Glenn has apologised unreservedly for any upset caused to anyone by the post.”

A Victorian government spokesman sought to distance the government from the not-for-profit organisation.

She said the position was not taxpayer funded and that the government had no involvement in the appointment of Reconciliation Victoria’s board or co-chairs.

Originally published as Reverend Canon Glenn Loughrey forced to apologise over “totally insane” online rant