Holt MP Anthony Byrne and Fountain Gate Christian Centre pastor Rob Ward say the reality television show Big Brother should exit from society for good.
By Callan Date
IT’S time to go… Big Brother.
That’s the message being sent to the controversial reality television program by the Casey Pastors Network.
The concerned community leaders were joined by Holt MP Anthony Byrne last Wednesday to discuss the show and what they say is its crude content.
They believe the constant images of drunkenness and lewd sexual behaviour is having an adverse effect on the City of Casey’s youth.
The meeting was sparked by a recent Big Brother incident in which two male housemates were booted off the show for alleged sexual misconduct involving a female contestant.
“It’s not the first time we have discussed our concern over the program, but we believe it’s now time to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough,” Mr Byrne said.
If Big Brother broadcaster Channel 10 doesn’t bow to public pressure and axe the program soon, Mr Byrne says he will start a petition in the local area.
“I’m sick of being told by the commercial television stations that behaviour like this is allowed on TV,” he said.
Mr Byrne said the program had led local youth astray for five years and was sending the wrong message by promoting drunk and morally wrong behaviour.
Fountain Gate Christian Centre pastor Rob Ward said he had spoken to a local secondary school principal who had also expressed his dismay at the show.
“The show offers no value to the public at all and it’s really a waste of television space,” Mr Ward said.
Berwick Church of Christ pastor Barry Gutchie joined the chorus of outrage, saying the show should be taken off the air immediately.
“The lowest standard of this generation is the highest standard of the next generation and Big Brother is setting the standard very low,” he said.
Mr Gutchie believes the program should be dumped and replaced with a show that encourages and motivates young people.
“Children see people on television as role models and the housemates on Big Brother are anything but role models,” he said.
Prime Minister John Howard and other leading politicians have echoed the Casey pastors’ concerns, calling for the show to be axed.
