ACL 10th October 2013

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10 October 2013

Legal advice shows ACT nine have overstepped the mark

Nothing new in Tas law report on same-sex marriage

Changing marriage not a priority for Tasmanians – it’s time to move on

Vic doctor investigated for not referring patient on for sex-selection abortion

Same-sex marriage: is it harmless?

Bob Day on the Political Spot about being elected to the senate

Professor Anne Twomey on the Political Spot about upper house preferential voting system

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo on the Political Spot about Syria

Please sign Barnabas Fund’s petition for persecuted Christians in Syria

March for the Babies on this Saturday 12th October

“Know the Times” Breakfast with Mark McCrindle, Brisbane

ACL’s Jim Wallace to speak at the COSEK Conference in Melbourne

In the media – a wrap up of the last week’s commentary

For the diary – a selection of upcoming events

Staying in touch with ACL

Thanks to everyone who responded to our call to write to Prime Minister Tony Abbott about marriage last week.

There was encouraging news at the weekend with the commonwealth Solicitor-General ruling that the ACT Legislative Assembly is acting unconstitutionally in its bid to redefine marriage.

This should mean the debate is over but those seeking to change marriage and what it means for children, free speech and freedom of belief are very determined.

Expect to see the ACT Government resist this legal advice.

Pat Byrne of the National Civic Council writes of the far-reaching consequences of changing marriage.

These are almost never discussed in the mainstream media.

Meanwhile, displaced people seeking asylum from conflicts such as that in Syria continue to suffer.

The new Government is to be commended for agreeing to take 500 refugees from this crisis.

However, as the Barnabas Fund’s Patrick Sookhdeo tell’s Katherine Spackman for the Political Spot, the situation is dire.

Australia can and should do more and ACL believes the new Government could start by revising its decision to cut Australia’s humanitarian annual intake from 20,000 to just 13,700 people.

We agree with both sides of politics that the deadly people smuggler boats must be stopped.

But stopping the boats should not mean stopping the refugees.

We may not be able to help everyone in need, but a wealthy country like ours should do more.

Lyle Shelton

ACL Managing Director

Legal advice shows ACT nine have overstepped the mark

Advice from the commonwealth Solicitor-General that the nine people in the ACT Legislative Assembly trying to redefine marriage for the nation have overstepped the mark should bring the debate to an end.

Nothing new in Tas law report on same-sex marriage

The Australian Christian Lobby said today’s research paper released by the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute does not shed any new light on the legal complexities surrounding same-sex marriage. “The report tells us what we already know – that there is much diversity of opinion in the legal fraternity about the constitutionality of a state-based same-sex marriage law,” said ACL’s Tasmanian State Director Mark Brown.

Changing marriage not a priority for Tasmanians – it’s time to move on

Tasmanian MLCs’ should reject Independent MLC Ruth Forrest’s latest attempt to legislate a new definition of marriage, according to the Australian Christian Lobby. “Yet again we are seeing legislation by fatigue. People are sick and tired of this debate and keen to move on,” ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown said.

Vic doctor investigated for not referring patient on for sex-selection abortion

News reports emerged over the weekend about a Victorian doctor who is being investigated mark hobartby the Medical Board of Victoria for not being able to refer a patient, who sought a sex-selection abortion, onto another health care professional he knew wouldn’t have a conscientious objection.

Same-sex marriage: is it harmless?

By Patrick J. Byrne

Same-sex marriage fundamentally changes not only the legal definition of marriage, but all the social, educational, economic, legal and religious institutions that service and support marriage, family and children.

Bob Day on the Political Spot about being elected to the senate

Bob Day is the Senator-Elect of the Family First Party representing South Australia. He will take up his position on July 1st, 2014. In this interview with the ACL’s Katherine Spackman he talks about his position on some issues including paid parental leave scheme, foreign aid and preferential voting.

Read more plus audio interview

Please sign Barnabas Fund’s petition for persecuted Christians in Syria

Please join with Barnabas Fund in calling on Western governments to take action on behalf of persecuted Christians in Syria by signing a petition.

March for the Babies on this Saturday 12th October

This year’s March for the Babies will be held this Saturday 12th October. The March has been held each year in Victoria since 2009, and is in response to the Abortion Law Reform Act passed in 2008 in Victoria, which makes abortion available for any reason up to 24 weeks.

“Know the Times” Breakfast with Mark McCrindle, Brisbane

Whether you are in business, government, education or ministry it is essential that you know the market you are working in, so you can ensure you are providing the right product or service, enabling you to maintain ongoing profitability and engagement with the community.

One of Australia’s foremost social researchers, demographers and media go-to person is Mark McCrindle. Please join us at an upcoming breakfast – “Know the Times” – where Mark will be sharing the very latest Australian trends, vitally important for business, education, government and ministry to be able to seize the opportunities coming in 2014.

The breakfast will be held on Friday 8th November at Parliamentary Annex, Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane. Registrations essential.

Follow this link for more information and to register.

ACL’s Jim Wallace to speak at the COSEK Conference in Melbourne

ACL’s Jim Wallace will be speaking at the COSEK Conference in Melbourne alongside Family First Senator-Elect Bob Day and marketplace Church planter Sean Morris. The conference is designed to help inspire and network Christian leaders to transform our nation for Christ. It’s on Saturday the 2nd November from 9-5pm at 488 Swanston st, Carlton VIC and the cost is $95. More information can be found here.

In the media – a wrap up of the last week’s commentary

In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on issues such as marriage, R18+ games classification, and Victorian abortion law developments.

For the diary – a selection of upcoming events

4 − 13 October – Australian Barnabas Fund 20th Anniversary Tour, nationwide

11 October – Abortion Symposium: Ideology and Informed Consent, Melbourne

12 October – March for the Babies, Melbourne

31 October – Public talk, Q & A: Would we be better off without Christianity?, Hobart

2 November – Cosek Conference, Melbourne

8 November – Breakfast, “Know the Times” with Mark McCrindle, Brisbane

13 November – Breakfast: Tasmanian Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast, Hobart