ACL 1st August 2013

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1 August 2013

Tas abortion inquiry begins

SEXPO advertising in Brisbane threatens children’s innocence

Federal election: ACL asks parties to answer questions on issues such as family and justice

ACT Govt should leave marriage to federal jurisdiction

ACL’s Dan Flynn on the Political Spot about SA Parliament rejecting same-sex marriage bill. Hansard of the debate now available.

ACL’s David Hutt on the Political Spot about preferential voting in the Senate

ACL’s Lyle Shelton on the Political Spot about Make it Count 2013 Election Panel webcast

Save the date – Election Webcast Wednesday 11 September 2013

AWW magazine shows same-sex and single Australians looking overseas to have children

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

When is it ok to kill a baby in the womb? Sixteen weeks? Twenty four?

This was under discussion at yesterday’s Tasmanian Upper House inquiry into a bill to decriminalise abortion.

The State’s chief medical officer Craig White said he preferred 24 but would settle for the “middle ground” of sixteen weeks.

What sort of a discussion is this?

It comes as the scientific journal Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences has just published a meta-analysis of studies detailing the adverse mental health impacts on women from abortion

The Tasmanian Department of Health wants the abortion debate reframed as a health issue and for abortion to be seen as “just another medical procedure”. Really? A child’s life is lost and a mother is at risk of mental illness.

ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown has been working with others to bring truth into this debate. Tasmanian readers can find out more at our Alive and Kicking Make a Stand Campaign . The Parliamentary inquiry is continuing.

The conversation about abortion needs to be reframed and an organisation called Emily’s Voice is doing a great job at this.

On another matter, ACL is planning its 2013 Make it Count election webcast for September 11. Please save this date. Uncertainty over the election dates is causing us to hold back promotion of this but once the trigger for a September 7 election passes this weekend, we will get the information out to you.

God bless,

Lyle Shelton
Managing Director

Tas abortion inquiry begins

By Mark Brown

This week a standing committee of the Tasmanian Upper House began hearing evidence regarding proposed changes to Tasmania’s abortion laws. Abortion is currently lawful in Tasmania (up to full term) if two medical practitioners agree that the continuation of the pregnancy would involve greater risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman than if the pregnancy were terminated. The laws relating to abortion are contained within the Tasmanian Criminal Code.

SEXPO advertising in Brisbane threatens children’s innocence

By Wendy Francis

Last Thursday, SEXPO advertised its latest event in Queensland by flying a plane over the playground of a Christian school during school break time.

Federal election: ACL asks parties to answer questions on issues such as family and justice

ACL has sent an election questionnaire to political parties in the lead up to the federal election. This is designed to educate voters of party positions on issues of particular importance to Christians, so they can make an informed decision on election day. ACL has asked political parties to respond by Friday, 9th of August. We will inform you of these responses after this date.

ACT Govt should leave marriage to federal jurisdiction

The Australian Christian Lobby is urging the ACT Labor-Greens government to leave marriage laws to the federal jurisdiction and avoid an ad hoc approach to Australia’s marriage laws.

ACL’s Dan Flynn on the Political Spot about SA Parliament rejecting same-sex marriage bill. Hansard of the debate now available.

Dan Flynn is the Victorian Director of the Australian Christian Lobby who was in the SA Parliament during debate of the state based same-sex marriage bill. In this interview with the ACL’s Katherine Spackman he talks about what happened during the debate and what members told parliament.

Read more plus audio interview

Save the date – Election Webcast Wednesday 11 September 2013

At each election ACL aims to serve Christian voters by helping them make sense of key issues and policies of concern to us all.

ACL is pleased to announce a quality panel of Christian leaders, thinkers and subject matter experts have agreed to join with ACL to stage a live webcast to your church, should your church wish to participate.

The Make it Count 2013 Election Panel will be webcast live on Wednesday September 11 at 7:30pm Eastern Standard Time, 7pm Central Standard Time and on delay at 7:30pm for our WA viewers.

Promotional material including on-line registration for the webcast will be available soon.

AWW magazine shows same-sex and single Australians looking overseas to have children

By Wendy Francis

An article in the latest edition of the Australian Women’s Weekly magazine has highlighted the advancements in fertility science allowing single and same-sex couples to have children, and their willingness to venture overseas to do so.

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 a Sexpo advertisement flying over a Brisbane school, and redefining marriage in the ACT.

For the diary – a selection of upcoming events

7-16 August – Conversation : Life, the Universe and Nothing, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne

8-24 August – Vishal Mangalwadi tours Australia, nationwide

9-11 August – Conference: Fire on the Mountain, North Tamborine, Queensland

14 August – Political Q&A with ACL’s Rhys Vallance, Victory Life Centre, Osborne Park, WA

16-17 August – Colloquium: Religion in the Public Square, Melbourne

23-25 August – Conference: Through trial and triumph, Canberra

26-29 September – Conference: Ignite, Brisbane

12 October – March for the babies, Melbourne