Family First Raises Concerns Over Equality Australia
Lyle Shelton, Family First National Director, has urged Governor-General Sam Mostyn to clarify her stance on children’s rights, particularly concerning their need for both a mother and a father. Shelton expressed these concerns on 13th April 2026.
The Governor-General’s role as co-patron of Equality Australia has sparked controversy. This organisation advocates for pathways to parenthood that Shelton argues could deny children the love of either a mother or a father. He questioned whether these policies prioritise adult desires over children’s needs.
He stated, “Every child has a natural right, wherever possible, to be raised by the man and woman who brought them into the world.” Shelton highlighted the distinction between unavoidable circumstances like death or separation and deliberate policy choices.
Tragedies can leave children without one parent, but these are different from policies that intentionally remove a parent from a child’s life, according to Shelton.
Surrogacy Law Reform Concerns
Ethical concerns over Equality Australia’s push for surrogacy law reforms were also voiced by Shelton. He argued that expanding access to commercial surrogacy arrangements risks creating a market for women’s wombs and human babies.
“That is not compassion,” he asserted. “That is the creation of a rental market in women’s wombs and a cash market for human babies.”
As Australia’s highest constitutional officeholder, Shelton insists that the Governor-General should maintain impartiality and avoid associations with organisations promoting contested social policies.
He questioned whether Australia’s Governor-General believes it is acceptable to deliberately deny a child their natural mother or father in favour of adult lifestyle choices. Shelton reiterated Family First’s commitment to advocating for policies prioritizing children’s rights.
“Kids are not commodities. They are human beings with inherent rights,” Shelton stated, urging the Governor-General to sever ties with Equality Australia to preserve the integrity of her office.
Shelton further warned about Equality Australia’s advocacy for surrogacy law reform. He highlighted the potential for exploitation within proposed changes to both federal and New South Wales inquiries.
Equality Australia has been lobbying for changes that would expand access to commercial-style arrangements, potentially pressuring vulnerable women to carry babies for others, including two men.
He argued this turns pregnancy into a service, opposing the ethical standards he believes should be upheld.
