This month we have a special focus on articles relating to the Federal Election on the 24th
FEDERAL COALITION
The Liberal Party has elected Brendan Nelson to be its Parliamentary Leader.
(29/11) excerpted from Saltshakers Media Release | Julie Bishop from Western Australia has been elected as Deputy Leader.
The vote was very close - with Brendan Nelson receiving 45 voters to Malcolm Turnbull's 42
Although Malcolm Turnbull had been widely tipped to win the ballot, we, and some MPs, were concerned that he was promoting policies that were more akin to the Labor Party (reversing reform of workplace relations laws, ratifying Kyoto and actively promoting abortion and reform of homosexual 'couple' rights.)
Even some media commentators have said they thought Turnbull was actually to the left of the Labor Party. They asked why the Liberals looked like selecting someone who was certainly to the political left of Labor leader Kevin Rudd, who had tried so hard to position himself as a "Me Too" conservative throughout the election campaign.
Although it might seem that Brendan Nelson is a more conservative choice, we need to remember that he voted FOR the embryo Bill in 2002, FOR the cloning and destruction of embryos Bill and FOR the RU 486 Bill. So did Julie Bishop! And Brendan Nelson was once a member of the Labor Party. ....
Don't forget 39 Labor MPs didn't want Kevin Rudd
(27/11) Crikey.Com | Slicing through Labor's post-election euphoria is the stark fact that 39 of Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd's parliamentary colleagues voted against him for the leadership less than 12 months ago. They wanted to keep Kim Beazley in the job so that he could have a third crack at the prime ministership. In the caucus wash-up, Rudd received 49 votes to win by just 10.
The anti-Ruddsters were: Wayne Swan, Stephen Smith, Anthony Albanese, Stephen Conroy, Martin Ferguson, Jenny Macklin, Tanya Plibersek, Penny Wong, Craig Emerson, Chris Evans, Carmen Lawrence, Dick Adams, Sharon Bird, Mark Bishop, Carol Brown, Anna Burke, George Campbell, Kate Ellis, Steve Georganas, Jennie George, Michael Hatton, Chris Hayes, John Hogg, Annette Hurley, Steve Hutchins, Julia Irwin, Duncan Kerr, Catherine King, Joe Ludwig, Anne McEwen, Daryl Melham, John Murphy, Kerry O'Brien, Helen Polley, Bernie Ripoll, Glenn Sterle, Kim Wilkie, Dana Wortley and Kim Beazley.
Since then, some have made peace with Rudd and are assured of senior places in the first Cabinet to be announced at the end of this week eg. Treasurer Swan and Education and Training Minister Smith. Others have quit politics - Beazley and Carmen Lawrence
(29/11) excerpted from Saltshakers Media Release |We recognise the dedicated service that former Prime Minister John Howard and his deputy Peter Costello have given to this nation over many years, as well as others who have lost their seats..
Many people have spoken of John Howard as one of Australia's greatest Prime Ministers - perhaps second only to Robert Menzies.
The fact that the Prime Minister John Howard now seems very likely to have lost his seat of Bennelong is a sad way to end a career as one of Australia's greatest statesmen.
The Prime Minister only needed a swing against him of around 4.2% to lose... the electorate had undergone significant re-distribution a number of times since Mr Howard first won the seat 33 years ago.
Labor's Maxine McKew had tapped into the ethnic vote - with 12,000 Chinese and 5,000 Koreans in the electorate.
It appears the Chinese had traditionally voted for Mr Howard. But Labor ran a concerted campaign, highlighting Mr Rudd's Mandarin speaking, enlisting Chinese people as volunteers, erecting a huge billboard in Hong Kong and having Kevin Rudd's Hong Kong-born son-in-law Albert Tse assist in campaigning.
Learning from our Federal Election Failure
(29/11) Gordon Moyes, Christian Democrat Party | We must learn from the failure of the CDP in the last two Federal elections. Despite faithful workers on the polling booths, energetic and faithful visitation to communities and churches by our candidates, outstanding diligent work by our state director Phil, and the expenditure of a great deal of money given by faithful Christian, we made no dint in the electors mind.
Why Do the Nations Rage?
(27/11) Bill Muehlenberg, Culture Watch | This famous phrase, made even more famous by Handel in his Messiah, comes from Psalm 2. The whole Psalm is about the nations, and their limited and temporary nature, in contrast to the everlasting God. The Psalm reminds us that there is only one eternal and invincible ruler, and that all mere earthly rulers are only there by his grace and permission.
The Old Testament speaks much to the subject of nations and human rulers. We are told that nations have a role to play in the purposes of Yahweh. Israel was just one of many nations, and while chosen by God to be his peculiar people, both Israel and the nations had responsibilities and obligations under Yahweh
The Party’s over and Liberals will soon be history?
(29/11) Gordon Moyes, Christian Democrat Party | QUOTE: "We are so conditioned to the idea that two main parties define politics, we even call them left and right as if they were parts of our body. But parties spring up in response to the primary tensions in a certain time and place. In the 20th century that polarisation was capital versus labour. A century earlier, before even the idea of power among the working poor, politics was aristocrats versus tradesmen, the growing middle class of shopkeepers and artisans that formed the basis of the Tories. This is no longer the central tension in modern democracies. Centrist governments cover all the bases, and conservative politics has begun to wither away. This is a change that has come late to Australia. But social evolution is now speeding up and even this alignment is becoming dated. The issue of the future, coming down on us like a steam train, is of course the environment, the double hammer blows of climate change and peak oil. Energy, weather and human misery are the factors that will define our lives for decades to come. You can cancel your newspaper, those are the only four words you need to know." (Steve Biddulph SMH 29/11/07).
THANK YOU . . .
(28/11) excerpted from Saltshakers Media Release | We thank both John Howard and Peter Costello for their dedicated service to our nation – we certainly did not agree with ALL of their decisions but know how hard a life it is in politics, let alone in Federal politics.
Some very fine men and women are no longer in Canberra, or will not be after July next year – some we had known for some time. We think especially of Michael Ferguson who sadly lost his seat in Bass by a very small margin and Grant Chapman, a long serving Senator for South Australia, who appears to have lost his seat.
Christian Lobby Congratulates New Rudd Government
(24/11) Australian Christian Lobby | The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today congratulated Kevin Rudd and his ALP team on their election victory and said they looked forward to working with the new Government on many issues of interest to Christians. “Labor’s win has given the party a clear mandate to govern. We hope that the injection of new talent the election brings to all sides of politics will be good for the country,” ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said today.
The Nation has voted for change. . .
It may well be change for change’s sake but the majority of people have spoken and we will only see if it was change for the better as this new Labor government puts its’ hand to the wheel and starts to implement its’ policies.Our concerns, as expressed by all the red crosses on the Christian Values Checklist, by our many emails over recent weeks and by the insightful article by Richard Eason in our November Journal, will be confirmed, or allayed, by what the Rudd government now does.
Jubilant Rudd claims victory
(24/11) AAP | A JUBILANT Kevin Rudd has claimed victory for Labor in the federal election ... Mr Rudd paid tribute to outgoing prime minister John Howard for his service to public life. "A short time ago Mr Howard called me to offer his congratulations," Mr Rudd told his supporters at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium."I thanked him for that and the dignity with which he offered those congratulations." Mr Rudd called for the crowd to acknowledge Mr Howard's 33 years in public life.
John Howard concedes, says nation 'stronger, prouder'
(24/11) News.Com.au | JOHN Howard has conceded the 2007 Federal Election to Kevin Rudd, thanking the Australian people for the "immense privilege" of leading the nation.
“A few moments ago, I telephoned Mr Rudd and I congratulated him,” Mr Howard said in a speech to Liberal Party supporters.
“I wish him will on the task he would undertake.
“We’ve equipped to him a nation that is stronger and prouder and more prosperous than it was 11 ½ years ago.”
Mr Howard said that being Prime Minister was the highlight of his life.
“I want to say that there is no prouder job that anybody could occupy than Prime Minister of this country,” he said.
“It has been an immense privilege , every day of my life… to be Prime Minister of this country.”
Rudd Faces Hard Labor
(23/11) Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun Columnist | KEVIN Rudd as prime minister will be a control freak, and not just because that's the way he obsessively ticks. He'll be a control freak because he has little choice: he's a friendless leader promising what some in his Labor team don't want to deliver. That's what put the sting in that dumb quip of Labor's environment zealot, Peter Garrett: "Once we get in we'll just change it all."
... In fact, the day Rudd wins the election is the day I expect Labor's Left, in particular, to drop its who-me? smiles and start eating its leader alive. Or put it this way: the story of the Rudd government is likely to be of a jittery Labor leader with more formal power than any before him, trying to control people with a clearer sense of direction than he has himself.
WorkChoices
(22/11) Gordon Moyes | Businesses are using John Howard’s workplace laws to strike a better balance between work and family life, with a dramatic increase in time off allowed so employees can look after sick children or elderly relatives. In the most detailed study since Work Choices was introduced last year, 40% of employers surveyed indicate a dramatic increase in personal carers days off. The number of sick days taken has also increased and 27% are providing paid leave to help staff recover from personal illness (Deakin University and the Australian Human Resources Institute, Study of 1000 Human Resources Managers, 2007).
Evangelical Alliance has once again been running its Election Website containing a variety of articles and links for Christians to not only think through the variety of issues that arise in this particular campaign but the arguably more important questions of how Christian convictions relate to the varieties of public discourse. These are questions that need to be thought about well in advance of elections and will continue to need to be through through well.
The National Fatherhood Coalition has released a Fatherhood Family Values Checklist for the federal election 2007. It presents a list of issues that are important to fathers who love their families and who want to protect their children from harm:www.fatherhoodcoalition.org.au
Warwick Marsh, spokesman for the National Fatherhood Coalition said, "Men are the largest minority group in the nation and make up 49.2% of the population. The largest portion of this group is fathers who love their families and want to protect their children from harm. The fathers of Australia are tired of vocal anti-male and anti-family groups who represent an extremely small part of the population but concentrate on gaining the attention of the major parties. The fathers and men of Australia call on the government to support true family values and the needs of children who have a fundamental right to both and mother and a father.
Archives | The Courier Mail recently ran an article on Queensland's intention to decriminalise ALL abortions in the state.... "Aspley MP Bonny Barry is preparing to introduce a Private Member's Bill to remove abortion from the criminal code within the next 18 months, after being encouraged by Ms Bligh in mid-2000 to put the plan on ice.
... If the Bill is introduced, it will be the second time in the short term of the Bligh Government that MPs will exercise a conscience vote. Parliament earlier this month passed laws to enable scientists to clone embryos for research.
It is understood MPs will remain silent over the next few weeks so the devisive and polarising subject doesn't distract from the federal election campaign of Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd.
... Decriminalising abortion is within the ALP's convention, however in 2002 Mr Beattie refused to take up a Labor state conference resolution to further liberalise terminations.
Mr Rudd said yesterday [October 07]: "The question of decriminalisation is a matter for each state and territory government."
(29/10) Australian Christian Lobby |The Australian Christian Lobby put 25 questions to each of the political parties on key issues of concern to Christians. Australia Votes is a new, interactive website that contains the parties' responses to ACL's questions in bite-size pieces. It showcases their attitudes to Christian concerns as well as their responses to specific questions on pro-life, pro-family, refugee, climate change and many other issues.
Australian Electoral Candidate Beliefs Survey
Find out what candidates in federal and state elections believe on family issues. Festival of Light asks candidates to answer ten questions on vital family issues and scores the responses.
Read the results obtained by candidates in your electorate on the - Festival of Light, Australia website - www.fol.org.au
ACL RELEASES EXAMINATION OF GREENS’ POLICIES ON CHRISTIAN ISSUES
In the absence of answers to its election questionnaire from the Australian Greens, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has today moved to provide Christians with a better understanding of the party’s policies on issues of concern to Christians.
ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace today said the lobby has put a brief examination of the Greens’ policies and voting record on conscience issues on the ACL website and would also email the information to its supporters.
One law changes, 57 stay? No thanks
(7/11) Sydney Morning Herald | " ... a promise by the embattled Malcolm Turnbull (pictured left) to fix the superannuation problems of gay and lesbian public servants was greeted with dead silence this week by community leaders gathered to hear him in a fancy Double Bay hotel.
It's a promise that has been around since before the last election. These people know Mr Turnbull is on their side - if only because they've seen his full-page ads in the gay press, week after week. So when he trotted out this old pledge again on Wednesday night they were polite enough but went on eating.
Mr Howard always had opponents in the party room as he dabbled in the politics of sex over the past half-dozen years. They fought him when he opposed IVF for lesbians, banned adoptions by same-sex couples, redefined marriage - with Labor support - as a union of a man and a woman, and vetoed the ACT's plans for same-sex civil unions.
At each step along this path, Mr Howard declared he was not discriminating against gays and lesbians.
"I am in favour of removing areas of discrimination," he vowed last year. "If there are … areas of genuine discrimination, then I'm in favour of getting rid of them."
But when the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission identified 58 Commonwealth laws discriminating against same-sex couples in June this year, Mr Howard dug in his heels.
At a fiery cabinet meeting in late August, Mr Turnbull led almost all the ministers present in urging the Prime Minister to carry out the reforms. He refused.
....
Mr Howard is listening instead to church demands that reform must never come on the basis of sex. The states and territories have fixed all the problems simply by redefining "de facto" to include same-sex couples. But the churches won't have this.
(27/10) | In the period preceding an election the Australian Government assumes a caretaker role. It is important during that time that Australian Government resources are not used to communicate political material.
The Prime Minister's Media Alert Services will cease media transcript alerts from the beginning of the caretaker period (12pm Wednesday 17 October 2007) until after the election to ensure that political material is not included in the alerts.
Prime Ministerial transcripts will be available from the Liberal Party Website (at http://www.liberal.org.au/) which is not maintained or funded by the Commonwealth of Australia.
A Conflict of Visions
23/10 Bill Muehlenberg | With the Federal election now well underway, it is time to turn the spotlight on some of the competing visions of the two main political parties... The greater visions of left and right, in other words, will be explored here, in the hope of shedding some light on why Labor and Liberal believe what they believe, and do what they do... the left and right operate from fundamentally different premises. These premises really amount to differing worldviews, with differing ways of looking at the world, man, his predicament and possible solutions. Thus the foundation, or vision, on which political ideas are built is hugely important.
... The conservative vision tends to reflect the Judeo-Christian understanding that mankind is fallen, is limited, is prone to sin and self, and cannot produce heaven on earth, at least without the help of God. The left-liberal vision, by contrast, tends to see the human condition as innocent, malleable and perfectible, and tends to think that utopia on earth is achievable under the right social conditions.
Australian Christian Values Checklist
Warwick & Alison Marsh | When the Christian Values Checklist was initiated in 2001 we were surprised at the level of criticism it drew from all sides. Some criticism was directed along the lines of, "How dare you suggest that Christian values should have any role in the political discourse." Others branded it as part of the religious right who were part of some grand conspiracy. Truth is always stranger than fiction and eventually the truth prevails.
The debate has moved on in Australia and people are now asking the question, "Christian values - What are they and how should they be applied?" This is a good thing ... The key to our functioning democracy is the free exercise of Christian values which our democracy is built on in the first place. Our Christian values, which are largely values of the heart as opposed to the law, act like a breaking system on the process of corruption that power produces. That's why the current values debate in Australia is so important. The question is no longer do we need values but whose values do we really need. The Australian Christian Values Institute believes that we need to return to the values that are tried and true. The values that our founding fathers used to build our nation. The values that our soldiers fought for at Gallipoli. Even our Australian flag that our Australian soldiers fought for is built out of four crosses. All of these crosses are emblems of our Christian faith in one way or another, the southern cross being the most predominant. It is our proposition that these values, Christian values are the only way to build a better Australia for the common good of all. These are the values that made Australia great.
LINK TO THIS SITE TO VIEW THE VIEWS OF YOUR FEDERAL MEMBERS AND CANDIDATES AS COMPILED FROM INFORMATION FROM THE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY, SALTSHAKERS, FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, AUSTRALIA AND AUSTRALIA HEART MINISTRIES.
28 Days of Prayer Leading into the Federal Election
24/10 Australian Prayer Network | The Australian Prayer Network is pleased to join with all the major National Prayer Networks in Australia in calling all Christians to a 28 day season of prayer leading into the forthcoming Federal Election. We are indebted to the Parliamentary Prayer Network, under the leadership of Pastor Lynne Klomp, who has prepared the following prayer themes and scriptures which are being used by all participating networks and Churches across Australia. The option to fast is available to those led of the Lord to also engage in that way. Read More
The Australian Christian Values Institute
The Australian Christian Values Institute is an initiative of the board of Australian Heart Ministries, a non-profit charity dedicated to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Australian Christian Values Institute has a vision to 'renew the Christian vision of Australia for the common good'. Visit:http://www.christianvalues.org.au/index.html
"A
number of presidential
candidates have expressed
their Christian faith
as they court the "values
voter." CBN News asked
Colson how Christians
should feel about so
many candidates seeking
their vote.
"It depends on whether
we think they're being
sincere and the Bible
gives us all kinds of
ways of judging the
sincerity of someone's
profession," Colson
said. "Just because
somebody cries out 'Lord,
Lord' doesn't mean he's
going to be in the Kingdom."
Colson
said it's important
consider whether a person's
words line up with their
actions. "If their pious
mouthings are unsupported
by their behavior, reject
them, throw 'em out,"
he said.
"I
just happened to be
in the Senate yesterday
and walked by a guy
who professes one thing
and acts completely
differently," Colson
said. "Well, I have
a right to judge him.
He's given me a right
to judge him by his
own behavior. So we
need to be discerning.
I mean, I'm glad to
hear people profess
their faith. But … when
it comes to picking
who I want to…run the
country, I'm going to
look at how sincere
they are."
Colson
likes the job that President
Bush has done so far,
despite the setbacks
in Iraq. And he says
the president has been
damaged by the political
culture in Washington.
Colson
explained, "I think
he started out with
a couple of strikes
against him: his profession
of faith; clearly, his
faith in Christ in the
debates had him targeted.
And secondly, they thought
the election was illegitimate.
So he started with a
tremendous handicap."
"But
I saw Brit Hume on television
the other night ask
a pretty good question,"
Colson recalled. "He
said, 'If a month after
9/11, somebody would
say to the American
people, 'Would you be
happy if we had over
the next six years no
more terrorist attacks,
if the unemployment
rate fell to 4.5 percent,
if inflation was under
two percent, and if
the stock market doubled.
Would you be happy with
that?' Ninety-nine and
nine-tenths of the American
people would have said
'yes'." "I think things
have gone well," Colson
continued.
"I
think this President
has lived up to his
commitments. And I think
he's taken a bad rap
because the political
system now succeeds
only if you can destroy
the guy who's in and
you can prove yourself
better and you can come
in and bring your agenda.
It's
become so vicious."
Some polls have shown
Americans think the
economy is doing badly.
Why the seeming malaise
in America? "Because
they listen to the media,"
Colson said. "Bad news
sells - not on CBN -
but there's very little
bad news on the economic
front. This country
is fat. We've never
had it so good."
Chuck
Colson on God and Government
By Dale Hurd CBN News
August 4, 2007
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(29/11) excerpted from Saltshakers Media Release |
John Howard. 
Why Do the Nations Rage?
Jubilant Rudd claims victory
Rudd Faces Hard Labor
One law changes, 57 stay? No thanks 
Australian Christian Values Checklist
