Queensland gov was scared of swiming in pools with gays - 1985

National Party welfare minister Geoff Muntz

In 1985 it was still illegal in Queensland to be gay, not being legalised until 1990. During this time the then conservative gov in Queensland struggled with social policy to address the AIDS epidemic. At opne point there were unscientific rumours circulating that you could catch HIV by swimming in the same pool as someone infected.

Unsealed documents have shone a light on extreme homophobia in the Australian state of Queensland. 

The state’s 1985 cabinet documents were unsealed today under a 30-year rule, revealing the inner workings of the state government amid the AIDS crisis. 

However, they show a cabinet peppered with extreme homophobes, such as National Party welfare minister Geoff Muntz. 

In the documents, Muntz warns about the apparent spread of gay swimming events, claiming: “As a parent, I would have strong reservations about letting young people compete in a pool that was used for such a sick event as a gay swimming carnival.” 

“It seems these people who promote such an immoral, unnatural and deviant lifestyle are turning up everywhere in New South Wales. 

“…You’ll never hear of a gay mardi gras or gay swimming carnival in Queensland.” Pink News