Thread: Tony Abbott tells Ambassador to keep his gay partner away from greeting party

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he was "very happy" to be met by the ambassador to France and his partner last month, despite a report suggesting the incident led to the ambassador offering his resignation.
Fairfax reports a "bizarre incident" occurred when Mr Abbott arrived in Paris on Anzac Day.

It said ambassador Stephen Brady was on the tarmac with his long-term partner, Peter Stephens, when the Prime Minister's travelling party sent an instruction that Mr Stephens should remain in the car.

The arrival was not a public event.

The ambassador reportedly refused and following the incident, offered his resignation to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

His resignation was not accepted.

The Prime Minister's office did not deny the incident took place, but said in a statement: "The Prime Minister was very happy to be met by ambassador Brady and his partner when he arrived in Paris last month."

The ABC has been told it is protocol for an ambassador's partner or spouse to be part of a welcoming party when the prime minister is travelling with his or her spouse.

However, Margie Abbott did not travel with the Prime Minister to Paris.
It would be unusual for a Prime Minister to choose the members of a greeting party at an airport.

The decision is most often made by staff or foreign affairs department, according to protocols.

In a statement, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said, "I sincerely hope this isn't true".

"Australians deserve an explanation from Tony Abbott and if it's true, Ambassador Brady and his partner deserve an apology."

However, Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Mr Abbott has a lot of respect for the ambassador and it may have been a case of "protocol".

"I certainly don't think it would be sinister," he said.

"There may be issues around protocol, but I doubt the story is what people are trying to make it out to be, because the Prime Minister would have a great deal of respect for Stephen Brady and no doubt would have been very happy to meet his partner as I understand he was."

"In fact, the Prime Minister knows Stephen Brady very well and no doubt has met his partner Peter before."

Mr Frydenberg said he had been a good friend of Mr Brady for "many years" and praised him as being "fantastic and loyal".

PM 'very happy' to be met by ambassador to France and his partner amid report it led to resignation offer - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The ambassador reportedly refused and following the incident, offered his resignation to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

His resignation was not accepted.

I don't get that. If the man wants to resign, he can. If he's serious about it, he can just ignore the 'refusal' and simply not go back to work.

His "resignation" was a flouncy, gay thing,,,"Boo hoo, you hurt my feelings by not embracing publicly at the welcoming ceremony the aging queen whose dick I suck".

Once he gets an "I'm sorry", he'll dry his tears and flit off about his business.

Faggot drama queens....................................

Why can't our respective political representives concentrate on the issues and those of concern to the people that have elected them.

IF he did ask because he's anti-gay, then he should admit it publicly rather than lie to the voters.

It's no different in this day and age to telling someone they should keep their wife locked in the car because she's Asian, or perhaps ugly.

Then again, Abbott is an arse anyway.

Abbott is a soap dodger, no apologies for his strange behaviour needed.

Back on topic, Australia used to have a "no poofters" immigration policy, funny to now discover it's because they're full up,

Originally Posted by Begbie

Abbott is a soap dodger, no apologies for his strange behaviour needed.

Back on topic, Australia used to have a "no poofters" immigration policy, funny to now discover it's because they're full up,

When I last arrived, the immigration officer said "Have you got a criminal record?".

I said "I didn't realise you still needed one".


rat-a-tat-*ching*

and it may have been a case of "protocol".

more likely to have been a case of proctitis.

Abbot has just lost 50% of the Aussie Vote, jeez Oz is a gay Eutopia.

abbot is a god bothering closet poof and a fcukwit to boot

murdoch has his cock up abbots arse and is using him as a puppet

the latest outrage is the govt internet filter so retard australians can be forced to pay foxtel to watch game of thrones

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

IF he did ask because he's anti-gay, then he should admit it publicly rather than lie to the voters.

He is expressing a reasonable sentiment which the suffocating atmosphere of political correctness prevents him from being able to express more plainly since he is a professional politician.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

It's no different in this day and age to telling someone they should keep their wife locked in the car because she's Asian, or perhaps ugly.

It is fairly different. Homosexuals currently enjoy a very generous amount of privilege in western society. Maybe a little bit more than the average civilised person feels is right but also those people feel unable to voice their opinion for fear of the stigma of being branded a 'homophobe'.

Originally Posted by Looper

those feckless keyboard bigots feel unable to voice their opinion for fear of the stigma of being identified as a 'homophobe'.

Fixed that for you.

maybe abbott was just reluctant to receive a faceful of turdbreath from the ambassadors rim-meister nancyboy.

perfectly understandable really.

Originally Posted by Looper

Mr Frydenberg said he had been a good friend of Mr Brady for "many years" and praised him as being "fantastic and loyal".

FFS it's obvious the PM hates the guy, why else would he have sent him to work in France?

Originally Posted by Looper

but also those people feel unable to voice their opinion for fear of the stigma of being branded a 'homophobe'.

Or the other well worn label,"bigot."

Seems folks have been intimidated into silence around the world through verbal threats...

French Ambassador eh? Le cock Succor...no doubt about it.

Wonder what the message was.
"Tell that fucking poofter to keep his faggot bitch in the car out of sight FFS".
I can imagine Bob Hawke saying it.