Politics

Greg Hunt in fiery row with radio host over gay conversion therapy

Apr 18, 2018

Greg Hunt launched into an angry row with the presenter. Source: Getty.

Greg Hunt launched into a fiery spat with a radio presenter in a tense exchange on air, as the pair discussed a recent push within the Liberal party for debate over gay conversion therapy.

The health minister was on air with ABC Radio National presenter Patricia Karvelas when he demanded she express her views on freedom of speech – ending with an awkward war of words.

A motion was recently put to a Victorian Liberal Party’s state council meeting calling on the state government to ensure better access to “counselling out of same-sex attraction or gender transitioning”.

Asked about the proposal, which was later shot down and dumped, Hunt insisted: “Look, it’s not something I support, it’s not federal government policy, it’s not going to be federal government policy and we’re not about to change our position on that.”

Karvelas then asked: “But are you alarmed somebody thought it was a good idea?”

To which Hunt replied: “People are entitled to have different views, views that I disagree with… What I do worry about is this constant view that nobody is anywhere allowed to have a different view. As a journalist, I would hope you would believe in freedom of speech.”

It soon got tense as Hunt asked: “Do you believe in freedom of speech?” When she said yes, he quickly asked: “What does freedom of speech mean to you?”

From there, they both attempted to talk over each other in a fiery exchange, as Karvelas pushed the minister to answer her question. Hunt repeatedly insisted anyone has the right to have a different view to him, but demanded an answer from the radio host.

“I’ve answered your question, now you answer my question,” he went on. “Will you just once answer a question from me? Your audience is listening, here’s your chance. Or are you afraid to stand up for freedom of speech?”

Rather than answering, Karvelas asked her same question again – despite Hunt insisting he had answered it, saying “I don’t agree with it [gay conversion therapy]”.

As she attempted to end the interview, Hunt said he was “disappointed” and accused her of playing a “game” with her questions, instead of engaging in a “real discussion about freedom of speech”.

“This was your chance and I hope you run this in full,” he said. She immediately replied: “I am going to run it in full – every single world.”

The original motion was pulled by state president Michael Kroger at the time, and when asked if his decision to pull it was the same as stifling freedom of speech, Hunt replied: “I didn’t know there was a motion. I have no idea about the background to it.”

As Karvelas asked: “How can you not have an idea? Why are you reflecting on it then?” Hunt then said: “You asked me a general question, I replied. I asked you a general question, you won’t reply.”

Karvelas eventually confirmed she does believe in freedom of speech, and believes gay conversion therapy “has had devastating results for people”.

Hunt then appeared to believe they were off air, but when Karvelas confirmed they were still recording – and she planned to run it all – she added that it was “extraordinary” Hunt had “tried to turn around the interview and hijack it”.

It prompted Hunt to conclude with: “I am surprised it took an extraordinary amount of time for you to acknowledge you actually believe in freedom of speech.”