Lyle Shelton (born 11 July 1969) is an Australian conservative political activist and politician. He has served as National Director of the Family First Party since May 2022.
Shelton served as managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) from 2013 to 2018. He was one of the leaders of the "No" campaign in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. In 2018, he resigned from the ACL to become federal communications director of the Australian Conservatives political party. Shelton has been employed by Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson since at least August 2019.
Since 2022, Shelton has presented a program on ADH TV.
Politics
Shelton was at one time the youth pastor on the staff of Toowoomba City Church. He served on Toowoomba City Council from 2000 to 2006. Shelton was the chair of Council's Strategy and Governance Committee and campaigned against the sex trade in that area. He had an active role in the "No" campaign in the 2006 Toowoomba Water Futures referendum, which his side won.
Shelton retired from the Council to contest the 2006 state election, running in the seat of Toowoomba North for the Queensland Nationals. He was unsuccessful.
Australian Christian Lobby (2013-2018)
Shelton was managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby from 2013 to 2018, having previously been chief of staff.
He has said that same-sex marriage would affect the needs of children and religious views.
Shelton is a member of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce. In relation to poker machines, he has said they cause incredible hardship to Australian children and families.
He campaigned against the Safe schools program.
In December 2016, Shelton participated in The Cape Town Declaration launched by conservative groups in Cape Town, South Africa, to affirm marriage as between a man and a woman.
In the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, as of mid-September 2017, Shelton was mentioned across news outlets more times than the leading three "Yes" campaigners, Alex Greenwich, Tiernan Brady and Sally Rugg, combined.
Australian Conservatives (2018-2019)
In February 2018, Shelton resigned from his ACL position to re-enter party politics, joining Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives as federal communications director. He ran as the lead Senate candidate for Queensland at the 2019 Australian federal election, at which the party obtained just 1% of the vote. The party was deregistered on 25 June 2019.
Christian Democratic Party (2021)
In March 2021, during a Supreme Court case between two factions of the board, Fred Nile announced that he would be stepping down at the end of 2021 and nominated Shelton as his successor in the New South Wales Legislative Council and as President of the NSW Christian Democratic Party. Shelton agreed to this. The Australian Financial Review stated that his priorities were expected to be "abortion, energy security, poverty and “woke corporations”".
Shelton moved to Sydney and took up a position within the Christian Democratic Party. In September 2021 Nile withdrew his endorsement of Shelton due to "irreconcilable differences" arising from opinions Shelton had posted online and a concern that "Lyle often acted without consultation with my team". Nile stated that he would remain in parliament until 2023 to complete his parliamentary term. Shelton was reported to be "devastated", but pledged "my ongoing service to party members and supporters as we build a political movement that truly reflects Christ's character".
Family First Party (2022-present)
On 27 May 2022, Shelton was appointed the National Director of the Family First Party. Tom Kenyon, a former Labor state minister and the current National Chairman of Family First, said he was 'delighted' to have 'someone of Lyle's calibre' joining the party.
“Australians need a party that will take a bold and unequivocable stand for families. The welfare and protection of families our freedom and our faiths should lie at the heart of our society and community. These are the foundations upon which western civilisation has been built and they must continue to remain strong. That's why we are building a movement that will stand for families and it is why I am delighted to have someone of Lyle's calibre to help build on the momentum Family First achieved at the recent South Australian election”
Shelton stood in the 2023 New South Wales state election for the Legislative Council. His group got 1.1% with 58,361 votes.
Award
In December 2016, Shelton was awarded the World Magazine's 2016 Daniel of the Year because of his role in the same-sex marriage debate in Australia.
Controversy
Shelton has drawn controversy for repeatedly referring to children brought up by same-sex couples as a Stolen Generation, for his disappointment in Christians who support same-sex marriage, and for his support for parents who wished to use conversion therapy on LGBT minors.
Shelton has claimed a drag queen show is "pornography".
Works
Books
- 'I Kid You Not': Notes from 20 Years in the Trenches of the Culture Wars.
References
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/lyle.shelton.7
- ^ "Australian Conservative Lyle Shelton on a mission to stop Safe Schools". 10 February 2018.
- ^ Sandeman, John (30 May 2022). "Lyle Shelton joins Family First". Eternity News. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ "Our staff". Archived from the original on 6 December 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ Lyle Shelton joins Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives, The Guardian Australia, 4 February 2018
- ^ "Deb Frecklington must block Shelton's LNP party membership". Queensland Government. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ Smee, Ben (29 October 2020). "Queensland election's 'parallel with Warringah': why independent Claire Richardson could topple LNP incumbent". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Inside Australia's Newsmax, the Alan Jones-backed outrage network". Australian Financial Review.
- ^ Allpass, Genevieve (11 June 2005). "Sex fight goes to Parliament". Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ Donaghey, Kathleen. "Brisbane may drink recycled effluent too". The Toowoomba Chronicle. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ Shelton, Lyle (20 August 2012). "Gay marriage debate is more complex than "free love"". The Punch. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- ^ Aston, Heath (30 April 2013). "Muslims join Christians on gay marriage referendum call". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ^ Hall, Eleanor (18 January 2012). "Wilkie insists poker machine deal still holds". The World Today, ABC. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
- ^ "Potential charges over Bernardi protest". Yahoo News. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Cape Town Declaration". Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "Family groups meet in Africa for global fight against marriage equality". OutInPerth. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ Sainty, Lane (14 December 2016). "Anti-LGBT Activists Launch New "International Organization For The Family"". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ Knaus, Christopher (21 September 2017). "Lyle Shelton gets more media mentions than all three leading yes campaigners". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ "Martyn Iles new Managing Director for Australian Christian Lobby". Anglican Church League. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Lyle Shelton joins Australian Conservatives party | Sky News Australia". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ Doherty, Ben (3 February 2018). "Lyle Shelton quits Australian Christian Lobby to enter politics". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ Australian Electoral Commission (25 June 2019). "First preferences by candidate". Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "Australian Conservatives Voluntary Deregistration" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ Sainty, Lane (26 March 2021). "Fred Nile sued over emails about alleged 'siege' at Christian Democrats headquarters". News.com.au. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ Fred, Nile (11 April 2021). "Lyle Shelton to Replace Fred Nile in NSW Parliament". Eternity News. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ O'Mallon, Finbar (12 April 2021). "Lyle Shelton to replace Fred Nile in NSW upper house". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ Sandeman, John (10 September 2021). "Christian Democrat Fred Nile Disendorses Lyle Shelton". Eternity News. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ S, John; May 30th (30 May 2022). "Lyle Shelton joins Family First - Eternity News". Eternity News. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Family First appoints Lyle Shelton National Director". Daily Declaration. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ "Lyle Shelton joins Family First as National Director". OUTInPerth | LGBTQIA+ News and Culture. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ "2023 NSW State General Election - Register of Candidates - Updated: 13/12/2022" (PDF). Elections NSW. New South Wales Electoral Commission. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ Olask, Marvin (10 December 2016). "A bold stand in the Land Down Under". World. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ Holgate, Tess (11 December 2016). "Lyle Shelton polarises Aussie Christians". Eternity. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ Davidson, Helen (29 February 2016). "Q&A recap: Lyle Shelton locks horns with panel on marriage equality". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- ^ "Christian Leaders Hit Back At Lyle Shelton Over Gay Conversion Therapy Remarks". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- ^ "ACL labels drag show in Sydney's Pitt St Mall "pornography" | OUTInPerth – Gay and Lesbian News and Culture". www.outinperth.com. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Conservative politician claims drag is 'porn'". PinkNews. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Shelton, Lyle (2020). 'I Kid You Not': Notes from 20 Years in the Trenches of the Culture Wars. Cleveland, QLD: Connor Court Publishing. ISBN 9781925826951. Retrieved 7 June 2022.