Western Sydney councillor doubles down on same-sex parent book ban as residents express outrage over move

At a meeting last week, former mayor and current councillor Steve Christou successfully passed the amendment that the council take “immediate action” to “rid” same-sex parent books and materials from its eight council-run libraries.

Christou told Guardian Australia it was “very disgraceful” the state government was threatening to pull funding from the shire, adding Cumberland was one of the most “socially disadvantaged communities in New South Wales”.

“They paid to paint buses for Mardi Gras but because a democratically elected council makes a decision in the interest they feel is representing the views of their community we’re now being threatened,” he said.

In February, Cumberland council passed a motion in front of a 300-strong crowd banning drag queen storytime events, in a move seconded by Christou and critiqued by the current mayor.

New South Wales arts minister John Graham on Wednesday wrote to the council advising it the ban contravened the state’s laws that set out guidelines for freedom of access to information from libraries.

In the letter, seen by Guardian Australia, Graham noted libraries in Cumberland received $743,130 in government funding last year and asked that the council reconsider the ban “with haste”.