ACL 21st November 2013

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21 November 2013

A sad day for the unborn in Tasmania

First step for unborn rights in NSW

Dismissal of “Boobs” campaign complaints undermines women’s worth

Dr Joanna Howe talks about barriers to adoption in Australia

Dr Lance Emerson chats about national plan for child and youth wellbeing

Peak family relationship body releases report on benefits of early intervention

ACL applauds UK action on internet filters

Emails to politicians impacted NSW vote on same-sex marriage

Join with Equality Now to advance Nordic Model of prostitution at UN

Social researcher speaks on the trends redefining business, society and families

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

It’s with a heavy heart that we report that the Tasmanian upper house passed laws today that remove abortion from the criminal code and put it into the health code.

It means abortion will be seen by the government as merely another medical procedure. The bill also allows women to have an abortion upto 16 weeks without having to get doctors permission.

ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown has worked tirelessly with a committed coalition of people to uphold human rights for the unborn in Tasmania.

However, ironically, we are pleased to report that NSW lower house passed Zoe’s law today. Zoe’s Law seeks to extend the offence of grievous bodily harm to an unborn child. It now needs to pass the upper house.

Meanwhile ACL’s Wendy Francis reports on the Advertising Standards Board’s dismissal of the Bond’s “Boobs” campaign – further reinforcing the idea we need government intervention when it comes to outdoor spaces.

We’re heartened to see what’s happening in the UK at the moment with internet filtering and the stand the government is taking to protect children from inappropriate content.

ACL’s Katherine Spackman has done some radio interview about barriers to adoption in Australia, a new national plan for child and youth wellbeing and a family relationship services report on the benefits of early intervention in family breakdown.

Also, check out the news on how you can advocate for the Nordic approach to prostitution reform at the UN.

Lyle Shelton
Managing Director

A sad day for the unborn in Tasmania

The Australian Christian Lobby has expressed disappointment Tasmania’s upper house has passed legislation which will make it easier to obtain an abortion in the state. The ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown said abortion is already legal in the state but the passing of today’s Reproductive Health Bill, which removes abortion from the criminal code and puts it in the health code, means abortion in the state will no longer be seen as taking another life by our government but as a mere medical procedure.

First step for unborn rights in NSW

Foetal rights bill Zoe’s Law today passed its first significant hurdle as the bill makes its way through the New South Wales Parliament. The bill was put to a conscience vote in the Legislative Assembly and was passed by a margin of 63 votes to 26.

Zoe’s Law seeks to extend the offence of grievous bodily harm to an unborn child. If the bill is passed by both houses of parliament, it would be the first time in NSW law that the separate personhood of an unborn child has been recognised in legislation.

Dismissal of “Boobs” campaign complaints undermines women’s worth

Last month the Advertising Standards Board dismissed complaints from the public about Bond’s “Boobs” campaign. The ASB’s decision to dismiss all complaints regarding the campaign was unsurprising given that in the past year the self-regulated body has dismissed most complaints it’s received from the public.

Of the 3,640 complaints made to the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) the board looked at 473 and only 68 were found to have breached its Code of Ethics.

Dr Joanna Howe talks about barriers to adoption in Australia

Dr Joanna Howe is a spokeswoman with Women’s Forum Australian. In this Political Spot interview with the ACL’s Katherine Spackman she talks about preliminary findings into barriers to adoption.

Read more plus audio interview

ACL applauds UK action on internet filters

The Australian Christian Lobby has applauded British Internet Service Providers’ action on filtering pornography – with 20 million families having to make a decision by the end of 2014 whether they will have a filter or not.

Emails to politicians impacted NSW vote on same-sex marriage

Comments from Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) during last week’s debate on same-sex marriage in New South Wales Legislative Council, which was defeated by a margin of 21 votes to 19, shows grassroots activism played a part in the vote.

Many MLCs spoke to the bill. The Nationals Richard Colless told the parliament that while he had received almost 4,000 emails opposing the bill he had only received 500 emails from constituents asking him to support the change.

Join with Equality Now to advance Nordic Model of prostitution at UN

ACL is encouraging its supporters to join with anti-trafficking group Equality Now in urging the United Nations (UN) to provide greater protection for trafficked women by adopting the Nordic Model on prostitution. Equality Now, along with another 97 anti-trafficking organisations, are concerned about recent UN reports which make recommendations in direct opposition to international human rights standards, failing to protect trafficked women and improve their situation.

Social researcher speaks on the trends redefining business, society and families

One of Australia’s foremost social researchers, demographers and media go-to person Mark McCrindle spoke at a breakfast function this month about the latest trends in business, society and families across our country today. The video of the event is now available to watch online.

Access the video

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

The ACL’s Lyle Shelton discusses Federal Government moves on asylum seekers and basic freedoms in this week’s Politics InFocus.

Click here for more media commentary

For the diary – a selection of upcoming events

29 November – Film screening, Nefarious Merchant of Souls, Darwin

11 January – 9 February – Pro-life walk, Crossroads, various states

19 – 24 January – ACL Gap Week, ACT