Albany, Western Australia: New campaign by outraged parents to restrict sex books for teenagers at a public library

A regional council has become the center of a book ban controversy after a group of concerned locals pushed for sex education material aimed at teenagers to be posted in a banned area.

The call to have the books removed from the Albany Public Library in Albany continues Western Australia‘s south coast, was presented to the city council during a May 28 meeting.

Representing the Keeping Children Safe Albany Committee, Michelle Kinsella asked the council to place books the group deems “inappropriate” for children in an age-restricted section of the library.

The former One Nation candidate for Albany in the 2021 state election said all adults should be “shocked” that the material is available for free in a public library.

It comes after intense public scrutiny Sydney‘s Cumberland Council will reverse a similar ban on sex education books in public libraries in May.

Former One Nation candidate Michelle Kinsella (pictured) has called for sex education books for teenagers to be banned from the Albany Public Library

Keeping children safe Albany has called on the city to examine the library’s young adult catalog for sexually explicit material.

They also requested that “inappropriate” books be placed in a restricted area of ​​the library that is “not openly displayed.”

If passed, anyone under the age of majority (16) who wants to read these restricted books would need permission from a parent or guardian.

Ms Kinsella handed out photocopies of excerpts from Dr Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes’ book ‘Welcome to Sex’ to council chamber members, claiming the book encourages the ‘grooming’ and ‘sex abuse’ of children.

The book was named ‘Book of the Year for Older Children’ by the Australian Publishers Association for ‘its ‘don’t ask a stupid question’ guide to sexuality and pleasure.

However, a month after winning the prize in June last year, the book was temporarily removed from shelves in Big W due to strong backlash over its contents.

“They should not be in our library, they should not be on display and we want you to work with us so we can get this under control,” Ms Kinsella has petitioned councillors, the Albany Advertiser reports.

In a video posted to Facebook on Monday, Ms. Kinsella highlighted more books in the library’s young adult section, which she said should be limited.

“This furthers the sexualization of minors, which, as far as I and members of our community are concerned, is a gross violation of our rights as parents to say what our children are exposed to,” she told followers.

‘We’ve had enough, we’re taking back our parental rights.

“As a parent, I get to decide what my 11-year-old is exposed to, not the library.”

The video also showed that a box of free condoms had been left next to the youth section of the library. The former political candidate said she would remove it and bring it to the council for an explanation.

“We’re not going anywhere because we’re going to win this fight,” Ms. Kinsella said.

“Because my rights as a parent outweigh anyone who thinks this is legal.

“It’s immoral, not in our community.”

Ms Kinsella said books such as ‘Welcome to Sex’ (pictured) encourage the ‘grooming’ and ‘sex abuse’ of minors, and called on Albany Council to remove the books from their shelves.

City of Albany CEO Andrew Sharpe said the library is an “inclusive and welcoming space”, aligning with the Australian Library and Information Association’s statement on open access to information.

Mr Sharpe added that the statement explains that ‘library and information services have special responsibilities in supporting and maintaining the free flow of information and ideas’.

“The Albany Public Library is a public facility for use by all members of the community and must provide a service to all residents without discrimination,” he told the publication.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Albany Council, Albany Public Library, Dr Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes ​​for comment.

Just weeks before Ms Kinsella appeared before council, protests were held outside Cumberland Council, where a recent ban on books about same-sex relationships was being debated.

The book, called Same-Sex Parents, features a gay couple and their young son on the cover.

Councilor Steve Christou, who pushed for the original ban, told Daily Mail Australia he is against “any form of sexualisation of our children, whether it is heterosexual or homosexual.”

The ban was overturned by a vote of 13 to 2, as demonstrators from both sides of the debate were separated by police outside the council in a tense standoff.