Father Banned From Going Near Politicians

A South Australian father who objected to gender and sexuality activism at his daughter’s school has been arrested and hit with bail conditions that now keep him away from politicians, electorate offices, and public events where elected officials are meeting the community.

Luke Poulton, 33, became involved after Reynella East College promoted IDAHOBIT activities and encouraged students to wear rainbow accessories. The school takes children from preschool through to Year 12, and Poulton’s concern was aimed squarely at the younger students.

He did not believe preschool and primary-aged children should be drawn into arguments about gender and sexuality. He spoke publicly, helped organise a protest outside the school, and later went to the electorate offices of Labor MPs Katrine Hildyard and Nat Cook to demand answers.

Police later arrested him over allegations that he behaved aggressively and disorderly in an electorate office and made menacing comments online. Poulton denies the claims and says he will fight the charges.

He has not been convicted.

Even so, the bail conditions imposed on him are extraordinarily broad. According to the bail agreement, Poulton must obey the following orders:

I must not attend within 100 metres of any electorate office in South Australia.

I must not attend any location where a member of parliament or elected official are engaging with the community. This includes elected officials at local, state and federal levels.

I may only attend Reynella East College for the purpose of matters relating my child only.

I must not post or comment on any social media relating to Reynella East College staff or elected government officials.

I must not encourage any other person to do anything in breach of this bail agreement.

These conditions do much more than keep Poulton away from the office or politicians involved in the case. They ban him from going within 100 metres of every electorate office in South Australia.

They also stop him from attending any place where a councillor, State MP, or Federal MP or Senator is engaging with the public. That could include a local meeting, community event, shopping centre stall, school function, or public forum.

There is another problem. How is Poulton supposed to know in advance whether an elected official will turn up somewhere? If a local councillor walks into a community event, is he expected to leave immediately?

The restrictions go online as well. Poulton cannot post or comment on social media about Reynella East College staff or elected government officials.

That means a man who has not been found guilty of anything has had much of his political activity shut down before his case has even reached court.

The allegations against him still have to be tested. If he broke the law, the court can deal with that after hearing the evidence.

But bail is not supposed to become punishment in advance. Nor should it be used to block someone from political debate, public meetings, or contact with elected representatives unless there is a very strong and specific reason.

The background to this case matters. Poulton was acting as a parent who objected to what was being promoted at his child’s school. He protested, spoke out, and went to politicians for answers. Australians do that every day.

People can disagree with his views or dislike the way he expressed them. That does not make these sweeping conditions any less alarming.

Politicians are meant to be accessible to the public. Australians should be able to question them, criticise them, and attend events where they meet voters.

Luke Poulton is now restricted from doing all of that, despite not having been convicted of a crime.

That is the part Australians should be paying attention to.

““Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
– Frederick Douglass