Labor throws pity party after being told to keep anti-Basil Zempilas signs away from Pride parade

Labor’s bitter battle against Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has escalated, with a minister accusing Pride WA of “censorship” over police removing negative signs from their annual march. In a statement on social media, Perth MP John Carey lambasted the Pride WA board, claiming police had been asked by the group to tell Labor to remove signs critical of Mr Zempilas andLiberal leader Libby Mettam. Photos accompanying the post show Labor MPs and volunteers holding up signs saying “Basil Zempilas shut down a Women’s Shelter”. “Last night Pride WA censored the WA Labor/Rainbow Labor as part of the Pride parade instructing us to remove signage which criticised the WA Liberals on their anti LGTBQAI+ commitments and for closing a women’s shelter,” Mr Carey said. “Pride marches are built on a history of political activism and protest, freedom of expression and advancing the rights of LGTBQAI+ community. “Police were approached and informed by Pride WA that WA Labor was breaching the agreed conditions of the march participation, despite no rules prescribing any limit on political messaging to enter the parade.” Labor’s signs were also used at a Pride WA community fair last weekend with Mr Carey defending the signage. Pride WA’s parade rules allow organisations to represent themselves, but are to refrain from advertising specific campaigns, including “political messages”. Mr Carey also targeted Pride WA’s acceptance of sponsorship from the City of Perth that “enables political interference and censorship of messages”. “The real reason behind the censorship became clear when a Pride WA leader told a member of WA Labor they feared losing City of Perth funding,” Mr Carey said. But Pride WA chairperson Michael Felix said the decision had not been influenced by sponsors and the group had become caught up in “an ongoing political controversy” not of their making. “Pride WA appears to have been caught in the middle of an ongoing political controversy, that existed before the commencement of PrideFEST and was not of our making. This distracts from our core message of inclusivity, togetherness and a safe environment,” he said. “Some of our volunteers were made to feel unsafe at the parade and this is deeply concerning. “This warrants further consideration at the appropriate time. “Operational decisions made by Pride WA during the parade are not influenced by the views of our partners or sponsors, and are made purely on the grounds of public safety and creating a safe environment.” Mr Zempilas said Mr Carey was “unravelling”. “This is a pathetic attempt from a failed minister to divert attention away from his shocking record of delivery,” he said. “Minister Carey should be worrying about housing and homelessness, not politicising community events.” Mr Carey’s post comes just days after The West revealed the Housing Minister was about to take on the role of “chief attack dog” against MrZempilas ahead of the election. Labor is gearing up its attacks against Mr Zempilas — a Seven West Media employee — who is linked to leadership speculation in the Liberal Party against Ms Mettam.