THE Liberal-endorsed candidate for Eastern Victoria, Renee Heath, and the Sale-based City Builders Church are in the national spotlight after an exposé on 60 Minutes and in Nine Entertainment newspapers.
Both Ms Heath and the Church are denying allegations after an eventful weekend which saw Ms Heath dumped from the Liberal Party by Opposition leader Matt Guy, after reports alleged that Ms Heath is an “agent” to advance an ultra-conservative political agenda, and that the Church practises gay conversion therapy.
The 60 Minutes program – aired on Sunday, November 20 – conducted interviews with former members of the Church, detailing a history of alleged homophobia and “cult-like” mentality among its leadership.
One former member, Patrick McIvor, said that the church’s founder, Pastor Brian Heath, had discouraged him from socialising with females and pursuing a career in the arts, in a view to “cure” his homosexuality.
Mr McIvor also detailed how he was arranged to marry Mr Heath’s daughter, Clare, again to deter his homosexuality.
The report’s presenter, investigative journalist Nick McKenzie, claimed that Mr Heath invited 60 Minutes to attend one of the Church’s services, only for that service to be cancelled at the last minute.
Earlier this year, ABC published an online story alleging that the Church had “infiltrated” the Eastern Victorian branch of the Liberal Party, resulting in the preselection of Renee Heath – Mr Heath’s daughter and Clare’s sister – as an Upper House candidate. Outgoing Liberal MP, Cathrine Burnett-Wake, was defeated in July by Ms Heath in a pre-selection battle by a vote of 53 to 55.
Renee Heath, a 36-year-old chiropractor, had refused multiple requests from various media outlets for comment and interviews to clarify her stance on LGBTIQ+ issues, gay conversion therapy and abortion since she won pre-selection for the Upper House.
In a statement released on Monday morning from the City Builders Advisory Committee, the Church said they were “deeply disappointed by the segment on 60 Minutes and Nine Entertainment, and coverage in The Age“.
“The allegations of wrongdoing are completely false,” the statement read.
“We unequivocally reject allegations of exorcisms on children and gay and vulnerable people. No such practice was ever engaged in at any time by City Builders Church, or any affiliated church. The Church and its pastors have always acted appropriately, lawfully and in a way that is true to their faith.”
The Church also claimed that Nine Entertainment had “capitalised on a painful family split for political purposes and commercial gain”.
“We have lodged action with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission on the grounds of religious discrimination and persecution, and the Australian Press Council,” the statement concluded.
Brian Heath also responded to the story in a statement on Monday morning.
“My love for my daughter Clare is unconditional. As a family, we deeply love and miss Clare, Patrick and their children and we are grieved over the loss of our relationship,” Mr Heath said.
“I cannot agree with their account of the past, but my hope is for a day where we can put our differences aside and come together as a family once again. Our home is open to them, as it always has been.”
Just hours before 60 Minutes aired on Sunday, Ms Heath told Nine Entertainment in an email that she does not support gay conversion therapy.
“I’ve always believed in the separation of church and state,” Ms Heath said.
“I have never attempted to impose my religious views on others in the Liberal Party and I do not intend to do so now.”
On Saturday, leader of the Liberal Party, Matt Guy, released a statement saying that he had spoken with Ms Heath “to advise that she will not be sitting in the Liberal Party Room following the election” in response to the 60 Minutes and The Age investigation.
Despite this, Ms Heath is almost certain to be elected to the state Upper House, as she is first on the ballot for Eastern Victoria, and with early voting already open, she cannot be disendorsed or removed from the ticket.
Mr Guy claims he was unaware of certain aspects of what was reported by The Age and 60 Minutes on the weekend, despite reports on Ms Heath circulating in the media for months.
Stratford musician and former The Voice Australia contestant, Michael Harrington, is running for The Nationals for Eastern Victoria, and on the Upper House ballot for the Coalition.
Asked on Saturday about The Age‘s story, Mr Harrington told the Gippsland Times that he didn’t know enough about the situation to comment in detail, but said it was not his job to “proselytise about people’s morals”.
“That is totally a case for Renee Heath herself, and whoever is associated with herself at the Church. That is not a matter for me. I don’t know the ins and outs well enough.”
Mr Harrington’s comments were made before the 60 Minutes report aired.
Reason Party candidate for Eastern Victoria, Dean Barnes, said the revelations on the 60 Minutes report “were nothing short of harrowing and deeply disturbing to watch”.
“That this is happening, under a dark shadow, right here in our community has left me stunned and shocked,” Mr Barnes said.
“I commend all those who have spoken out for their courage and bravery.”
