David Templeman calls Liberal candidate Thomas Brough a ‘dickhead’ over Albany book debate

A Liberal candidate who has supported the removal of books from an Albany library has been branded a “dickhead” in a passionate Parliamentary debate by a senior Government minister. In a passionate speech to Parliament over the debate in the City of Albany to remove books about sex available to young adults, Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman lashed out at protestors targeting library staff, calling on them to “stop”. He also called on Liberal leader Libby Mettam to reprimand City of Albany councillor Thomas Brough over anti-LGBTQAI+ comments and showing support for the group calling for the removal of books. “If you are part of a political party that’s part of this, and you’re a leader of a political party that one of your candidates is part of this, have a good, strong word to him,” Mr Templeman said under Parliamentary privilege. “This is not how we should play politics in this in this country. “The leader of the Liberal Party, because it’s the Liberal guy, I’ll tell you what I’d be getting on the phone to you now if I was her — what a dickhead.” Mr Templeman, who withdrew the comments, also angrily called on protestors to stop a campaign against library staff, including filming them at work. “I want to send the message to those who are doing this — stop. It’s ridiculous, appalling, and wrong. Stop hurting people and abusing people like you’re doing. Stop it,” Mr Templeman said. Liberal leader Libby Mettam called the speech “unparliamentary”, but refused to say if she had spoken with Dr Brough about his comments. “I would suggest that they are not only unparliamentary, but also are not of the standard of debate that we should be having when it comes to real issues right across the community,” she said. “This sort of name calling really does not fit in with community expectations.” Ms Mettam said her and Liberal candidates’ focus were on issues which mattered to their communities — law and order, cost of living and the health system. She denied Dr Brough’s focus was on anti-LGBTQAI+ comments or banning books. “I’ve made my comments clear. This is not our focus. It doesn’t align with the values of the Liberal Party or myself,” she said. Dr Brough attended a meeting of Keeping Children Safe Albany, run by former One Nation candidate Michelle Kinsella, who has labelled two books on offer in the library as “pornographic” and inappropriate to children. Dr Brough was contacted for comment. The comments come a week after Cockburn Labor MP David Scaife called Liberal candidate for Churchlands and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas a “phony” and a “B-grade TV personality cosplaying as a politician”.