Australia’s Ambassador To France Offers Resignation After Refusing Order On Gay Partner; Bill Shorten Urges PM Abbott To Explain

Stephen Brady, Australian gay ambassador to France tendered his resignation for refusing to obey Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s instruction not to bring Brady’s partner in greeting the Prime Minister in Paris during the Anzac day. As soon as the story broke out, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten made an issue of the incident and urged Mr. Abbott to explain, saying the Australians deserve his explanation.

Speaking to Fairfax Media, Shorten added that if the incident was true, then the ambassador and his partner also deserve an apology. Several sources said Brady was waiting for the arrival of Mr. Abbott at 7:00 p.m. GMT time at airport tarmac.

Brady was inside a car with Peter Stephens, his partner for 32 years. The ambassador was supposedly instructed by Mr. Abbott’s travelling party to leave behind his partner in personally greeting the prime minister. No explanation was offered. No questions were asked.

According to a standard diplomatic protocol, partners of government officials should only be present during official arrivals solely when the partner of the prime minister is present as well. But during the Anzac Day in Paris, Mr. Abbott’s wife was not around. Stephen Brady and Peter Stephens are the first recognised ambassadorial gay couple.

Rather than obeying an official instruction however, Brady defied it and brought in Stephens in a non-ceremonial meeting with Mr. Abbott at Le Bourget, a smaller airport used exclusively for private jets. Canberra officials who witnessed the incident described the moment as “extraordinary” and “bizarre.”

Later, it was reported that Brady rendered his resignation. But the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade refused to honour said resignation. Brady declined to make a comment.

Not denying the incident, the prime minister’s spokesperson said Mr. Abbott was delighted to be greeted by the ambassador and his partner in Paris last month and confirmed rejection of Brady’s resignation.

In an interview with ABC’s Radio National, Australia’s Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg belied the story and said that based on what he knew about the prime minister, Mr. Abbott knows Brady very well and doubtless, the prime minister may have already met Stephens before.

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