In extraordinary developments inside the Christian Democratic Party, Rev Fred Nile has become President for Life and his critics have been purged.
Nile’s political coup occurred at the CDP’s annual conference held at the Meroo Christian conference centre in the Blue Mountains on the weekend of August 22-24.
The biggest casualty in the executive elections was party vice-president Rev Gordon Moyes, the other CDP MP in the NSW upper house.
Although from the same party, Nile and Moyes are miles apart politically. Nile resigned from the Uniting Church in 2003 over the ordination of gays while Moyes has taken a leading role in advocating a more inclusive Christian agenda for gays and support for people with HIV/Aids.
Nile has campaigned against Muslim immigration and for a ban on the chador (headscarf) worn by Muslim women while Moyes has supported inter-faith understanding, particularly between Christians and Muslims.
The conference also dumped party secretary Ken Gregory, a party stalwart of 15 years’ standing, and state treasurer Arie Baalbergen who served in the trenches of Christian politics for 20 years.
Another casualty was executive member John Phillips who had supported three office workers who made complaints about workplace harassment inflicted by a senior party official (not Nile).
In the bloodletting, the CDP has also lost state director Phil Lamb and office manager Ben Carpentier, both veterans of federal, state and local election campaigns.
Nile’s latest ally is Dutch-born Wally Vanderpoll, the NSW state manager since August 4 who has vowed to “uphold Australia’s Christian heritage and reinforce our proven Judeo-Christian moral principles in Australian society”.
A former Young Liberal, Vanderpoll has the stamp of approval of Nile’s other leading lieutenant, Michael Darby, the hard right-wing maverick who was expelled from the NSW Liberal Party last year.
Prior to the March 2007 state election, Darby was defeated by Michael Baird for Liberal pre-selection for the seat of Manly. After the loss, Darby went off in a huff and spent the campaign supporting Nile whose main platform was imposing a 10-year ban on Muslim immigration to Australia (which John Howard declined to condemn).
Darby is the son of the late Douglas Darby, Manly MP for 31 years (1947-78), and a former researcher for right-wing rabble rouser and radio ham Alan Jones.
Under the newly-formed Nile-Vanderpoll-Darby leadership the political trajectory of the CDP is clearly mapped out: more criticism of gay people and Muslims and full support for the entire US “moral majority” agenda.
Nile, who is pleased to refer to himself as “the father of the NSW parliament” is, at 82, old enough to be the father of Premier Morris Iemma, Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson.
He has earned a special place in the affection of the Labor Government by voting in favor of its most controversial — and often unpopular measures — and chairing committees of inquiry to rescue the government from political embarrassment.
His CDP critics are seething. One of them has suggested the party change its name. He told Crikey: “It is no longer Christian and it is no longer Democratic. It should be re-registered as the Fred Nile Party.”
Your article on 1/9/2008 regarding Fred Nile and the CDP NSW Annual Convention needs some corrections:
1. Under the original CDP NSW Constitution (dated 2001 and amended in 2006), the NSW State President, Rev Fred Nile, has always been entitled to remain the State President until he resigns or dies.
2. Rev Dr Gordon Moyes declined to accept his Jnr Deputy President nomination at the CDP NSW AGM so it was his choice to not stand for election to the CDP NSW Management Committee.
3. Ken Gregory is still the CDP National Secretary and Party Agent, he was just legitimately and democratically defeated for the new CDP NSW Secretary position by Elwyn Sheppard (previously CDP “Minutes” Secretary for 3-4 years).
4. In recognition of his great service to the CDP, Ken Gregory was the proud recipient of one of the 10 inaugural FLAD Awards (Faith, Loyalty and Dedication Awards) at the CDP Convention Gala Dinner.
4. Arie Baalbergen was legitimately and democratically defeated by Michael Darby, the new CDP NSW Treasurer.
5. John Phillips declined his nomination to the CDP NSW Management Committee at the CDP NSW AGM after not receiving a seconder for his nomination.
6. Phil Lamb, the previous CDP NSW State Director, unexpectedly resigned from the CDP after serving only 4 years of his 5-year contract, to join the National Party as their new NSW State Director back in February 2008 and this was 6 months before the CDP NSW Convention.
7. Ben Carpentier, the previous CDP NSW Office Manager, resigned of his own accord from CDP NSW, after far less than 12 months with the CDP and he left on 17/7/2008 and this was also well before the CDP NSW Convention.
8. Fred Nile is actually only 73 years young, has 27+ years of legislative experience, improves most bills in parliament and has served longer than anyone in the current NSW Parliament.
9. “Fred Nile Group” is a registered addendum to the CDP’s name.
Please publish this.
Wally Vanderpoll
CDP NSW State Manager/Director