The Reverend Fred Nile MLC
Son of a cabbie, politician of the people, man of the cloth - Rev Fred Nile MLC has attracted headlines and bomb threats since he was elected to the NSW Upper House 27 years ago
By Jonathon Rodgers
I don't see myself as controversial. I support traditional values. Other people don't agree with me, and that makes me "controversial". When you take a stand on certain issues, such as homosexuality, you can be misrepresented. Some people in the homosexual movement say: ‘Fred Nile isn't supporting us because he hates us.' I don't hate anyone.
I became a Christian and that changed my life completely. My own parents had no interest in the church at all. I must be the white sheep of the family. God called me to work full time for Him. My calling was to bring Christian influence and values into government, to be a missionary to parliament. In 1981, to my surprise, I actually got elected. This is my 27th year in parliament. They used to call me the father of the house, now I'm the grandfather. I got re-elected so I'll be around for a while. God put me in the hot seat.
The latest controversy was the Muslim school in Camden. It's just a genuine concern. There's no need for a big Muslim school to be put in Camden. It's like a Muslim invasion, almost. I got blamed for organising the whole thing but in fact they had a protest meeting, invited me to be one of the speakers and I accepted.
You can radicalise moderate Muslims. The group that are planning the school in Camden, the Koranic Society, are not a moderate group, or a secular group. They're trying to ensure the children are taught to be ‘true Muslims.' And in our view that is a militant Muslim, a fanatical Muslim. That's why it's probably better for the Muslim children to go to a state school because that should tone down the fanatical aspect. And they'd adopt more Australian values.
The official birth rate for Muslims is 6.8. I think it's more like 12. In 20 years' time we could have a massive social problem and a massive religious problem. Because they could turn around and say: "We're not asking anymore, we're demanding."
I'm not a racist. I'm not opposed to people coming to Australia from other countries. During the Vietnam War I helped bring refugees into Australia. But I am concerned about Islam because it is a religious/political ideology. Under the teaching of Islam, the Koran is the law, not just of the religion, but of society.
I'm not very happy with more small bars. I attack the idea of increasing the amount of selling points for alcohol. Availability of alcohol almost always creates more problems. I'm happy to have more entertainment in the city but only if the role of alcohol is downplayed. Kings Cross is the centre of vice. I'd like to see it as a centre of virtue. I'd like to see that we don't have brothels in Sydney, and we don't have violence, and we don't have drunkenness. I'd like Sydney to be a holy city.
I have no objections to homosexuals having a protest march. But I don't like the offensive content; the explicitly sexual activity. You could have floats and dancing girls. I have no problem with that. Just take out the obscenity and the blasphemy. I've probably been to more Mardi Gras than any other minister. I've taken a prayer protest group down there just to keep on the record that there are people who aren't happy with it. The homosexuals treat me with great frivolity. They often stop the floats and say "Hi, Fred". Some lesbian girls want to have their photos taken with me. I don't mind. I have no hatred for the people - I'm just not in favour of the event.
I've had bomb threats. Once I had a note on my windscreen saying there was a bomb in my car. I just said a little prayer and drove off. I'm doing God's work and I trust God to look after me.