Cumberland Press has intervened to prevent its Central Coast Express Advocate from running a political advertisement supporting Christian Democratic Party candidate for Dobell, Michael Darby.

The decision was made by Cumberland Press Advertising Operations manager, Mr Rod Strauch, who in a telephone conversation at 4.46pm on Friday 16 November advised Mr Darby that the advertisement breached the Cumberland Newspapers anti-discrimination guidelines.

 Michael Darby understands that Cumberland Press objects to the section of the advertisement which reads:

The Christian Democratic Party stands for:

* A Parliamentary Inquiry into the possible impact of fundamentalist Muslims in Australia.

* A ten year pause in Islamic immigration giving 340,000 Muslims already in Australia the further opportunity of showing that they accept Australian laws and embrace our way of life.

The Australian Publishers Bureau has provided this statement to its members:

The Anti-Discrimination Acts of each State and Territory states (sic.) that it is against the law for anyone to publish any advertisement that indicates an intention to breach the anti-discrimination law.

Discrimination that is against the law

Under the law it is a breach to discriminate against someone, to treat them (sic.) unfairly compared with someone else, or to harass them (sic.) because of their (sic.):

* sex;

* pregnancy;

* race, colour, descent, nationality, ethnic or ethno-religious background;

* age;

* marital status;

* disability;

* homosexuality (male or female);

* transgender status; and

* carer’s responsibilities

"I reject the Cumberland Press interpretation," said Mr Darby. "An expression of opinion in the form of policy points for a future Federal Government should not be misconstrued as an intention to commit a breach of a State law."

"If the Cumberland Press interpretation were to be upheld, then freedom of speech would be in grave danger. It could become illegal to advocate the rescission of Anti-Discrimination Acts. It could become illegal to advocate a change in the Immigration Act and it could become illegal to advocate constitutional change."

"Christian civilization is worth defending. I have joined the Christian Democratic Party because it is the sole party which takes seriously the plans which international Islam has expressed for Australia, and it is the only Party which is determined to reject and resist those plans."

State Director Phil Lamb said: "I am perplexed that freedom of speech appears to have been set aside. Is Cumberland Press really afraid of being sued? Or is this a veiled attempt to stop a political party on an issue of great significance to many Australian?"

In NSW the Christian Democratic Party is standing 44 candidates in House of Representatives electorates, and is campaigning hard to achieve the election to the Senate of lead CDP candidate, Paul Green.