MAY 2008 Articles, Thoughts & Resources

ACL calls for marriage and family safeguards in same-sex law changes

04/05 Australian Christian Lobby | The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today commended Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Federal Attorney General Robert McClelland on their intervention with the ACT Stanhope Government, which has seen agreement reached to remove aspects of the ACT civil partnerships legislation which, among other things, would have mimicked marriage or extended its reach to minors.

“While it is a great shame that it took the intervention by Federal Labor, with all the diversion of time and energy that takes for both governments, we understand from ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell’s announcement today that this legislation is now back to being pretty much consistent with the Tasmanian model of relationships registers, as we originally asked for,” said ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace.

Fifth National Day of Thanksgiving

03/05 Australian Prayer Network | I enthusiastically support this, the fifth National Day of Thanksgiving, on May 10 2008. I encourage all Australians to take advantage of this opportunity of the National Day of Thanksgiving to make a difference in the life of another Australian, by saying thank you to someone who might not normally hear those words.

Visit the "National Day of Thanksgiving" Website for Function & Service locations around the country / Official statements & Testimonies

Rudd explains why he opposes euthanasia

02/05 AAP | Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd remains opposed to voluntary euthanasia but says parliamentarians are entitled to a conscience vote on the issue.

Euthanasia was a complex and difficult area of medicine but laws allowing it could lead to the elderly and terminally ill thinking they were a burden on their loved ones, he said.

The Senate is currently revisiting a decision by the previous government to overturn the Northern Territory's euthanasia laws. Australian Greens senator Bob Brown has introduced a private member's bill seeking to restore the laws. Mr Rudd, who supported the Howard government decision, said he was opposed to the move.

"I say that as someone who has ... been in family circumstances where you've seen people very near and dear to you, in the case of myself, my mother, who died of cancer," he told Macquarie Radio Network. "It's not pretty to watch but my own personal view ... these are matters for conscience votes.

"If it becomes a mater for vote in the federal parliament, people exercise their conscience differently. "You asked me directly what my view is, that's it."

The rise of homelessness amongst Aussie youth

02/05 Maxim Institute | Homelessness is a term thrown around so often in the news that it is hard to imagine the reality of it. Having a place to sleep and security are such a normal part of most people's lives, that to comprehend the gaping hole the homeless face without these things requires attentiveness. In Australia, after the release of a disturbing report into youth homelessness, attentiveness to homelessness is exactly what is required. Money alone is no panacea. The problem has arrived despite the country experiencing long-term economic growth

The Australian National Youth Commission has released a report, Australia's Homeless Youth, showing that over the past twenty years, youth homelessness has increased to approximately 22 thousand people, despite economic growth in the nation. According to the report, not enough resources are available to support the vast number of people needing to access services, with 54 percent of people being turned away from accommodation during the periods in which data was taken. The Commission urges government to show leadership in facing the issues, suggesting that if the government prioritises this issue in their agenda, the community will follow in support. Their recommendations include channelling government funds into family mediation services, as well extending drug, alcohol and mental health services, so that young people can receive timely treatment. ...According to Lincoln Hopper, CEO of community service organisation Mission Australia, "When the number of homeless teenagers doubles in 20 years—despite us achieving record levels of prosperity in that time—then something is seriously wrong." ..... Read the ANYC Report Here (PDF)

Senate submission tells Perth radio to respect women

02/05 Australian Christian Lobby | The appalling sexual objectification of women by some West Australian commercial radio stations should be curbed, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) says in a Senate submission lodged today.

ACL draws from examples of recent on-air comments on Perth radio stations to demonstrate how commercial radio guidelines are being breached by covering explicitly sexual themes well before 9 pm or by failing to respect the dignity of women.