Legal experts earlier said Thorburn could have a legal case for religious discrimination.

The church’s public views were in “direct contradiction” to the Bombers’ values,Barham said.

Outgoing AFL bossGillon McLachlan was quizzed about the controversy and said he was not surprised by Thorburn’s decision.

“To be honest ... that he went with his faith doesn’t surprise me,because he’s a person of great conviction,” he said on Wednesday.

Everyone was entitled to their beliefs and Thorburn had to decide about where he wanted to be,he said.

“I think the way it played out … the organisation that he led,and their position on some issues was seemingly at odds with the Essendon Football Club.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews,Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and federal Opposition Leader Peter Duttonsparred over the controversy on Wednesday,with both opposition leaders painting the resignation as a form of religious persecution.

Andrews said on Wednesday he simply answered a question and that he had been a long-standing supporter of LGBTQ+ and abortion rights.

“I think that termination services are a private matter between a woman and her doctor. And I will speak out against people who seek to intrude on that,” Andrews said.

“What’s more,when it comes to rampant homophobia,when I lead the Pride March every year,I do that with a sense of genuine concern and support and commitment to make sure that every LGBTQ+ Victorian is safe,protected and valued. If I’m to be criticised for that,well,so be it.”

Andrews said the previous day that the appointment of the CEO was a matter for Essendon,but criticised the church’s views. Thorburn has said he did not personally share all the views aired by City on a Hill.

Dutton weighed in on Thorburn’s hasty exit,saying he was deeply concerned about the dismissal and called for him to be reinstated.

“I think there has been a very egregious attack on an individual because of his religious beliefs,” he said.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the premier should not tell the Bombers who to appoint as their boss.

“What are we now banning people from going to church,banning people from going to a synagogue,banning people from going to a mosque? This is ridiculous,” Guy said on 3AW on Wednesday.

Former Essendon president Paul Little hit out at the club’s current management and said he felt the pain of club supporters after atumultuous few months.

“The mistakes that are being made — there are just too many,quite frankly,” Little told ABC Radio Melbourne.

He said Thorburn’s involvement with the church should not have surprised the club,especially since he was well-known to officials.

Catholic Archbishop of MelbournePeter Comensoli told 3AW he would not renew his Essendon membership,as there had been “a rejection of so many other people of faith by their actions”.

“I think there is a very genuine question of the religious expression of someone being very seriously undermined in their employment and in their future prospects,” Comensoli said.

Comensoli said he was not homophobic,but he did not accept gay marriage “as a sacrament of the church”.

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