ACL compiles a daily media monitoring service of stories of interest to the Christian constituency relating to children, family, drugs and alcohol, marriage, human rights, religious freedom etc. Visit the ACL’s website each day to see what’s of interest in the news. Please note that selection of the articles does not represent ACL endorsement of the content.
Charities & NFP
Charities welcome scrutiny
Brian Mounster – The Mercury
Tasmania’s major charities yesterday said they had nothing to hide and would welcome a new national watchdog. On Sunday details of major Australian charities’ fundraising costs were released by research organisation Givewell, adding weight to the Federal Government’s decision to set up a charities regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.
Children & Family
Campaign to end ‘orphanage tourism’ in Cambodia
Australia Network News
Child rights groups in Cambodia have launched a campaign – backed by the government – to end what has become known as “orphanage tourism”. Those behind the campaign are concerned that some orphanages are thinly disguised businesses that exploit both children and tourists.
More Australians face housing stress
The World Today ABC
Previously unreleased documents from the Reserve Bank show that a significant proportion of Australians are under serious financial stress because of their mortgage. First-home buyers who indulged in the borrowing binge inspired by the Federal Government first-home owners’ grant in 2008 are under the most strain. A separate report shows that an inflated property market has left around one in 10 Australians facing poverty.
Women put off IVF after costs rise
Julia Medew – SMH
Thousands of people have missed out on assisted reproductive treatment since the federal government changed funding last year, resulting in the loss of about 1500 babies who would otherwise have been born.
Drugs & Alcohol
Reckless hoteliers’ pubs to be closed under demerit points system
Grant McArthur Herald Sun
Rogue pubs and clubs will be automatically shut down for up to 28 days under a demerit points system being introduced to State Parliament. Under the new system, similar to that applying to drivers’ licences, liquor licensees will lose points each time they are caught serving under-age or intoxicated clients, or breaking any other terms of their licences.
Warning from NSW Federal MPs to Julia Gillard over pokies
Simon Benson – The Telegraph
NSW Federal MPs have intensified pressure on Julia Gillard to drop the controversial pokie machine reforms, warning that Labor stands to be wiped out in NSW if she pushes ahead. The Daily Telegraph has learned that Ms Gillard was berated at a private drinks function at Parliament House two weeks ago by NSW MPs over her deal with Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie to introduce mandatory pre-commitment technology.
Education
Education begins with call from broadband provider
Lucy Battersby – SMH
NBN Co will launch a public education campaign next year, focusing on education, health and small business sectors. The company building the government’s national fibre optic network was primarily concentrating on network design and planning and its deal with Telstra, but would start public engagement early next year, its head of corporate services, Kevin Brown, said yesterday.
Gambling
Don’t bet your personal details on the Melbourne Cup
PRWire
The Melbourne Cup is likely to see record betting activity this year, both on track and online. With growing numbers of gamblers now able to place bets 24/7 via the Internet, mobile phones or interactive televisions.
Homelessness
Nominate a local homelessness service
Bega District News
Local residents and service providers are encouraged to nominate outstanding organisations committed to addressing homelessness for the first ever National Homeless-ness Services Achieve-ment Awards. Nominations are open in seven categories, which celebrate excellence, quality, innovation and achievement by homelessness service providers.
Marriage
Bill splits opportunity and equality
Ruth Limkin -The Courier-Mail
The question as to why Deputy Premier and Treasurer Andrew Fraser has rushed to introduce into Queensland Parliament a private member’s Bill for civil unions is not easily answered. I am sure Fraser is aware of the extensive legislative changes made by the Federal Government in 2008 to ensure no practical disadvantage exists for gays and lesbians in long-term relationships.
Qld Opposition tries to block civil unions bill
ABC
The Queensland Opposition and independent MPs have tried to block legislation on same-sex civil unions. Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser has introduced a private member’s bill which would allow same- and opposite-sex couples to conduct civil partnership ceremonies and register their relationships.
Gay adoption a step too far for Bligh
Daniel Hurst – ABC
Premier Anna Bligh has stopped short of backing adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples. The Bligh government refuses to change the law to allow same-sex couples to adopt, despite yesterday trumpeting its efforts to remove roadblocks to equality. Treasurer Andrew Fraser last night introduced a bill into Queensland Parliament that would allow same-sex couples and heterosexual couples to register their relationship as a civil union
Many marriages could be saved
Carolyn Moynihan – MercatorNet
Divorce, a major contributor to unhappiness and social disorder, is happening much more than it ought to — much more than even the spouses involved even want — according to a new report from the Institute for American Values. Some 40 per cent of US couples already well into the divorce process say that one or both of them are interested in the possibility of reconciliation.
Local MPs back gay marriage bill
Courier Mail
Labor MPs Steve Kilburn and Di Farmer support the Civil Partnerships Bill which seeks to legalise same-sex civil unions in Queensland. Local member for Chatsworth Mr Kilburn put his full support behind the bill – introduced into parliament on Tuesday night.
Politics
Julia Gillard’s plan for open trade with developing countries
Phillip Hudson Herald Sun
Julia Gillard says rich countries have failed to help the world’s poorest people as she called for a radical new approach to global trade negotiations. The Prime Minister last night said Australia would give a boost to the world’s least developed countries and allow them to sell their exports here tariff-free.
Prostitution & Sex Trafficking
Man on 99 child sex charges gets bail
Herald Sun
A 63-year-old man charged with 99 child sex offences, including obtaining under-age prostitution, has been granted bail. Richard Paul Baxter, of the Brisbane riverside suburb of St Lucia, was arrested yesterday afternoon as part of Queensland Police’s Operation Juliet Ostrich.
Religious Freedom & Persecution
Rights group warns of cover-up in Egypt killings
The Associated Press
A leading international rights group has warned of a cover-up by the Egyptian military in the investigation of the killing of more than two dozen mostly Coptic Christian demonstrators in the deadliest single incident since the February overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak. The New-York based Human Rights Watch called Tuesday for the independent investigation of the October 9 deaths of 27 people, mostly Christian, in front of Cairo’s TV building. Military vehicles were filmed running down protesters.
Iranian pastor languishes in jail as he awaits ayatollah’s verdict on apostasy
Michael Ireland – ASSIST News Service
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani continues to be held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, Iran, while waiting for the verdict to be delivered from the local court in Gilan Province following his conviction on apostasy charges. According to Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries, several weeks ago the local court wrote a letter to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, requesting his legal opinion in the case. “Presumably we will learn of his response shortly, but there is no precedent or law governing how quickly he needs to respond,” DeMars told ANS.
Christian mother of five in Nigeria killed
Compass Direct
Nigerian soldiers summoned to stop inter-religious fighting between Muslim and Christian youths last week shot and killed a Christian mother of five in the Yelwa area of Bauchi city, according to family and church sources. Soldiers were called in to restore calm following fighting that broke out at a high school soccer match on Thursday, and later three Muslim soldiers shot and killed Charity Augustine Agbo and a Christian boy.
Christians under threat as radical Islam spreads in ‘New Middle East’
Henry J. Reske – NewsMax
Attacked by mobs and terrorists, repressed by the growing popularity of fundamentalist Islamic law and cut off from crucial business ties, Christians are fleeing the Middle East in an unprecedented exodus.
Refugees
Hope for refugees
Cath McAloon – ABC
After fleeing civil war in Sudan, Deng Chour did most of his growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya. Now living in Australia, Deng is training to become a priest, a profession he believes will allow him to give hope to other refugees. Deng has been visiting Gippsland, sharing his story with students at local schools. He says it’s important that the students hear about the experience of refugees.
Union boss says asylum process too slow
Herald Sun
A union heavyweight running to be president of the Labor Party has urged the Federal Government to process asylum-seeker claims faster. Transport Workers Union national secretary Tony Sheldon’s call follows reports of mental illness in Australian immigration detention centres.
Further
Vatican speaks out on global economy
Elisabetta Povoledo – SMH
The Vatican has called for an overhaul of the world’s financial systems and once again proposed the establishment of a supranational authority to oversee the global economy, saying it was needed to bring more democratic and ethical principles to a marketplace run amok.
