SRI opponents denying kids their cultural heritage
On Line Opinion
It is unclear what damage to children 100 years of voluntary Special Religious Instruction in Victoria’s schools has caused. But an action by three parents in that bastion of political correctness, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, has sparked a flurry of articles in The Age by militant secularists and atheists seeking to expunge Christianity from the classroom. Many of the critics of SRI seem to assume Christianity to be a dangerous toxin from which children must be protected.
Shake-up for left as Conservatives retain power in Canadian election
SMH
OTTAWA: The Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has retained government, winning a majority of seats for the first time, giving him a mandate to fund corporate and personal income tax cuts with curbs on spending. Vote projections indicated that the New Democratic Party, a progressive movement with socialist roots, will form the official opposition, pushing the Liberal Party into third place for the first time since Canada became a nation in 1867. This means the election, the country’s fourth since 2004, is likely to significantly reshape the political left.
Justice delayed but finally delivered
The Australian
THE killing of Osama bin Laden is an epic event and rallying triumph for the US, but it has come far too late – he should have been killed during December 10-13, 2001, at Tora Bora, where his escape constituted one of the greatest failures in US tactical history. It was bin Laden, more than any other single person, whose fanatical vision created and sustained the war between the US and Islamist terrorism. It is the longest war in American history and sure to outlive its architect’s own life
Obama Issues National Day of Prayer Proclamation
Christian Post
President Barack Obama on Friday proclaimed May 5 as the National Day of Prayer, continuing a long tradition in the face of protest. With ongoing opposition from atheists and other nonbelievers, Obama made sure this year’s proclamation did not exclude any group. “Let us be thankful for the liberty that allows people of all faiths to worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience, and let us be thankful for the many other freedoms and blessings that we often take for granted,” he stated.
Support for carbon tax flagging
ABC
The Federal Government is still struggling to convince voters of the merits of its proposed carbon tax, according to the latest Newspoll. Thirty per cent of voters polled say they support the Government’s plan to put a price on carbon next year, while 60 per cent are against it.
Hundreds praise ousted Toowoomba bishop at vigil
ABC
Hundreds of people braved cold, damp conditions in Toowoomba on Queensland’s Darling Downs last night to give thanks to their ousted Bishop William Morris. Bishop Morris says he was forced into early retirement after raising the option of using women and married men to address the shortage of priests.
$10,000 for families with teens
SMH
LOW-INCOME families with teenagers will receive as much as $10,000 a year extra from changes to family tax payments in the federal budget. This figure is more than twice the $4200 extra the families were promised when the changes were announced during last year’s election campaign.
Treasurer’s low-key approach results in the right budget for its time
The Age
IF EVER there were a time to release a no-frills – and let’s face it – boring budget, it is now. Strategically, it would make little sense for the government to unveil a massive new spending agenda this early in a four-year political cycle.
Defensible and dullish, with nothing to scare the punters too much
The Canberra Times
State and territory governments all about the nation are delivering their budgets this week – seven days before a federal budget that could upset many of the calculations. All, at least, other than the newly elected NSW Government, which has put off its initial budget to September.
NT delivers biggest ever Budget
news.com.au
TOUTED as the Robin Hood of budgets, families and small business owners will be the biggest beneficiaries of the Northern Territory’s latest plan to tax wealthy property owners.
NSW Coalition targets political lobbyists
ABC
A crackdown on political lobbying is among the first pieces of legislation to be introduced by the O’Farrell Government. New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell believes political lobbyists have their place if the job is done ethically.
Dad, how do you make sex last longer?
The Punch
As a parent, there is always that one question from your child that you struggle to answer. I never would have predicted the one that finally stumped me when it was asked by my 4-year-old son.
