‘Must end abortion’: National union figure sparks walkout at university graduation

A speech calling on abortion rights to be ended in Australia, delivered at the graduation ceremony for a Catholic university, has sparked a mass walkout.

A union figure’s speech at a Catholic university declaring abortion must end has prompted a walkout from students and staff.

Joe de Bruyn, 75, was called on to speak at an Australian Catholic University arts, law and commerce graduation ceremony in Melbourne on Monday.

Dressed in his flowing university gown, Mr de Bruyn told the crowd he had opposed “the deliberate killing of unborn human beings” for decades.

“Today, over 80,000 unborn children are killed by abortion in Australia each year. Worldwide, the estimated number is 42 million each year,” he said.

“Abortion is the single biggest killer of human beings in the world, greater than the human toll of World War II. It is a tragedy that must be ended.”

A large crowd was in attendance as Joe de Bruyn took the stage. Picture: Supplied

Few were left once his speech ended. Picture: Supplied

The former and long-time national secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association has held these sorts of views, publicly, for years.

“Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted by God at the origin of humanity in the Garden of Eden, as the book of Genesis in the Bible tells us,” Mr de Bruyn told the students on Monday.

“Since then, every society on Earth at all times has recognised marriage as being between a man and a woman.”

Hundreds of staff and students left the auditorium as Mr de Bruyn said: “My experience is that many Catholics cave in to peer pressure”.

Footage shows graduates and their families - plenty who are a similar age to Mr de Bruyn - walking out while he was speaking. Students wearing clothing from religions other than Catholicism can be seen exiting.

The Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association represents retail, fast food and warehouse workers and Mr de Bruyn was national secretary from 1978 to 2014.

Joe de Bruyn holds a high profile in political circles. Picture: Supplied

The Australian Catholic University campus in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Picture: Google

The union is closely affiliated with the Labor Party with hard-right social conservative leadership.

The union was a significant hurdle in the Labor government legalising same sex marriage.

Mr de Bruyn holds an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University.

The university employs and enrols people of all faiths.

A university spokesperson said Mr de Bruyn was invited to speak in a personal capacity.

“The university understands that many of our staff, graduates and their families disagreed with the content of Mr de Bruyn’s speech, and we regret that this occurred,” the spokesperson said.

“While his views may not be shared by some of our staff and students, as a university we encourage the respectful exchange of ideas that represent the wide spectrum of our diverse community.”

Originally published as ‘Must end abortion’: National union figure sparks walkout at university graduation