Lyle Shelton (lobbyist)


Lyle Shelton is an Australian political activist and prominent social conservative. He served as managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby from 2013 to 2018. He was one of the leaders of the "No" campaign in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. In 2018, he resigned from the ACL to become federal communications director of the Australian Conservatives political party.

Politics

Shelton was at one time the youth pastor on the staff of Toowoomba City Church. He served on Toowoomba City Council from 2000 to 2006. Shelton was the chair of Council's Strategy and Governance Committee and campaigned against the sex trade in that area. He had an active role in the "No" campaign in the 2006 Toowoomba Water Futures referendum, which his side won.
Shelton retired from the council to contest the 2006 state election, running in the seat of Toowoomba North for the Queensland Nationals. He was unsuccessful.

Australian Christian Lobby

Shelton was managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby from 2013 to 2018, having previously been chief of staff.
He has said that same-sex marriage would affect the needs of children and religious views.
Shelton is a member of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce. In relation to poker machines, he has said they cause incredible hardship to Australian children and families.
He campaigned against the Safe schools program.
In December 2016 Shelton participated in The Cape Town Declaration'' launched by conservative groups in Cape Town, South Africa, to affirm marriage as between a man and a woman.
In the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, as of mid-September 2017, Shelton was mentioned across news outlets more times than the leading three "Yes" campaigners, Alex Greenwich, Tiernan Brady and Sally Rugg, combined.

Australian Conservatives

In February 2018, Shelton resigned from his ACL position to re-enter party politics, joining Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives as federal communications director. He is working to counter the Safe Schools Program in Queensland.

Award

In December 2016, Shelton was awarded the World Magazine's 2016 Daniel of the Year because of his role in the same-sex marriage debate in Australia.

Controversy

Shelton has drawn controversy for repeatedly referring to children brought up by same-sex couples as a Stolen Generation, for his disappointment in Christians who support same-sex marriage, and for his support for parents who wished to use conversion therapy on LGBT minors.
Shelton has claimed a drag queen show is "pornography".