Clearly not dissuaded by protestors trashing the ever-loving shit out of his Adelaide office, Cory Bernardi continues to be a closed-minded dick about Safe Schools.
As he continues to throw one of the all-time greatest political tantrums over the fact that his independent report into the vital LGBTQI+ program – which helps troubled and disaffected youth deal with bullying, while promoting safe and inclusive environments for young people of all sexual identities – found there to be absolutely nothing wrong with it, the Senator has taken to personally emailing not only Safe Schools supporters absolute gobbledygook – but the journalists calling him out on it.
Two nights ago, he sent a grossly inappropriate email response to a pro-Safe Schools mum, Melbourne’s Pia Cerveri, in which he legitimately claimed the program teaches kids how to “find more about bondage clubs and adult sex toys.”
“This is what the safe schools materials encourage. If you think this is ok then I worry for your children,” the email continues. “Inform yourself properly and then get back to me. Your opinion will carry more weight then.”
Cerveri forwarded the email to PEDESTRIAN.TV (we’ve blanked out her email for privacy reasons):
Cerveri says she sent Bernardi an email about his opposition to Safe Schools on Monday night, and copped the above reply within 30 mins.
“I wrote a very brief message to Bernadi via his online form on his webpage at about 9.30pm. It said something to the effect that I support safe schools and hope it’s available to my 2 and 5-year-old boys, as I want them to grow up in an inclusive and supportive society rather than one that isn’t as he seems to be promoting. I was completely shocked when his reply landed in my inbox.”
Bernardi hasn’t confirmed he sent the email, but it was sent from “Bernardi Office (Senator)” at the email address “bernardi.office@aph.gov.au” and signed off with his initials, sooooooo one can be 99.9% sure.
He also tweeted these sage words just after the email started to circulate last night.
The truth is like poetry, it’s just unfortunate that so many people don’t like poetry.
— Cory Bernardi (@corybernardi) March 22, 2016
He’s now stooped to personally emailing ‘corrections’ to journos penning stories calling him out on the email, specifically Huffington Post Australia‘s acting politics editor Josh Butler.
He shared the following response from the ‘CB’ email address on Twitter; laughably, it appears Bernardi emailed his snarky response to Huffpo’s generic feedback inbox, direct to ‘corrections’.
“CB” of Bernardi.office@aph.gov.au emailed me re: my story on Bernardi’s #SafeSchools email https://t.co/gk6Bn3JIu5 pic.twitter.com/1WX4QQb8f1
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) March 22, 2016
For her part, Cerveri continues to be disgusted by Bernardi’s “inappropriate” behaviour as an elected official.
“He… holds power in government and he’s espousing values and beliefs that are harmful to LGBTIQ people,” she says. “What I find especially distressing is that his attitude and comments directly affect LGBTIQ young people and children and the children of those people. That’s a very vulnerable target to have his sights on and is a perfect example of why we need Safe Schools.”
P.TV emailed Bernardi’s office last night, for a comment on the email he sent Cerveri, but are yet to hear back.
Cory, if you’re reading this, we’re waiting to hear from you at feedback@pedestriangroup.com.au.
Photo: Getty / Alex Ellinghausen.
