MEDIA RELEASE
Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton has welcomed the NSW Police Force's decision to amend controversial chaplaincy contracts after widespread concern that they would undermine the confidentiality at the heart of pastoral care.
Mr Shelton said the backdown was a victory for common sense and for the many police chaplains who courageously spoke out rather than compromise the trust placed in them by officers.
"I welcome the decision to clarify the contracts and preserve the confidentiality that has made police chaplaincy such a valued institution for the past 50 years," Mr Shelton said.
Premier Chris Minns himself acknowledged the importance of chaplaincy, saying: "(Chaplains) do an incredible job with police morale, dealing with often young officers in horrifyingly difficult circumstances, and we owe them a big debt of gratitude."
"That is exactly why confidentiality matters. Police officers must know they can speak freely to a chaplain without fear that their private struggles will become management information."
Mr Shelton said the episode should serve as a warning about the consequences of a society losing touch with the Christian foundations that helped shape Australia's institutions.
"As Australia drifts further from the Christian worldview that made our nation one of the freest, safest and most compassionate societies on earth, it becomes easier for well-meaning bureaucracies to make decisions that fail to understand the unique role pastoral care plays in a healthy civil society.
"Christian chaplaincy is not just another employee assistance program. It is built on trust, compassion, forgiveness and the sacred duty of confidentiality. Those principles have strengthened police officers and their families through the darkest moments of their lives for generations.
"I commend NSW Police for listening to the concerns of chaplains and correcting this mistake. I hope this episode reminds governments everywhere that our Christian heritage contains enduring wisdom which should be preserved, not sidelined."
NSW Police has clarified that the revised contract only permits chaplains to confirm the identity of officers they are supporting following a significant or mass casualty event to ensure affected officers receive appropriate welfare support. Family First accepts this as a reasonable and limited exception to the normal principle of pastoral confidentiality.