Victoria Archive

The Victorian Director Dan Flynn's letter to supporters in the state is now available online. First of all, let me introduce myself – I am the new Victorian State Director – something I consider a privilege, having commenced in March 2012. ...

Media Release Monday, May 14, 2012 ACL welcomes state government’s support for Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner The Australian Christian Lobby has welcomed the Victorian Government’s statement of support for Professor Kuravi...

MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday, 8th May, 2012 This week’s outrageous ‘virginity for sale’ incident highlights the need for the Victorian Government to urgently follow the lead of other overseas jurisdictions and implement the Swedish policy of crimi...

Dan Flynn is the new Victorian state director for the Australian Christian Lobby. Dan is a lawyer by profession. He practiced as a Barrister from 1989 to 2006, before commencing as a Solicitor with the Victorian Government. From 2008, until joining ACL...

The Australian Christian Lobby is pleased to welcome Dan Flynn as the new Victorian Director of the Australian Christian Lobby. Dan replaces Rob Ward who finished at the ACL at the end of the year to take up a position with Wesley Mission Victoria a...

MEDIA RELEASE Friday, 16th March, 2012 The Australian Christian Lobby has expressed disappointment that the Baillieu Government has decided not to repeal the Victorian Charter of Rights. ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said the Government�...

The Victorian government has gone back on an election promise to introduce voluntary pre-commitment on poker machines. This follows a decision last week by Prime Minister Julia Gillard to break her agreement with Independent MP Andrew Wilkie. The Fe...

Reverend Tim Costello is the Chair of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce. He spoke to the ACL's Katherine Spackman about the Victorian government's decision to renege on its election committment to introduce voluntary precommittment technology ...

Bernie Finn is President of March for the Babies and Member for Western Metropolitan Region in Victoria. He spoke to the ACL's Katherine Spackman about the recent decision by an abortion clinic to no longer offer late term abortions in the state. Click...

In what is good news for the pro-life cause, news broke yesterday that the infamous Croydon Day Clinic in Victoria is no longer offering partial-birth abortions. The Victorian clinic is one of the last remaining providers of partial-birth abortion i...

Rob Ward is the outgoing Victorian State Director of the Australian Christian Lobby. After being involved in the work of the ACL for the last 10 years - five years as a supporter and five years as state director - Rob is saying goodbye and heading in a...

After serving as the Victorian State Director for five years, it’s with mixed emotions that I’m writing to let all ACL supporters know that I’ll be finishing up at the ACL at the end of the year. I’m taking on a new challenge with Wesley Missio...

Position vacant: State Director (Victoria) ACL is seeking a full-time Victorian Director. Details of conditions of employment, including remuneration, are available on application. The Victorian Director’s role is to achieve political effective...

This week in the outer Melbourne municipality of Casey, a new Mayor was elected and sworn in for a 12 month term of office – nothing unusual about that – except that Mayor Sam Aziz is an Egyptian born Coptic Christian. In his remarks upon taking of...

The parliamentary committee charged with reviewing the first four years of the operation of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act handed down its report a few weeks ago. As we reported at the time, the report did not call for the complet...

The Victorian Director, Rob Ward, letter to supporters in the state is now available online. Another year draws to a close with our thoughts turning to Christmas celebrations. As I reflect on the year that (almost) was, it turned out very differ...

[caption id="attachment_13830" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Coptic Bishop Suriel"][/caption] You will be aware that our Coptic Christian brothers and sisters are suffering increased persecution in Egypt. Up to 29 young people were killed ...

The Victorian Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC) yesterday handed down its long-awaited review report into the operation of the Victorian charter of rights, with a majority of the committee recommending major modifications. At the very ...

Victoria has the worst laws regarding abortion in Australia, some would even say in the Western world. The passing of the Abortion Law Reform Act in 2008 is an infamous day and we invite you to join with thousands of other Victorians to declare on the ...

Victorian Director Rob Ward’s letter to supporters in the state is now available online. As I write this I am hearing that August in Victoria was the warmest and driest for many years. For us at ACL it may well have been the busiest and most excit...

Last month the new Democratic Labor Senator for Victoria, John Madigan, gave his maiden speech. He took the opportunity to highlight the injustice of Victoria’s 2008 abortion laws which legalised abortion up to birth even where there is a healthy ...

Victorians may have noticed a subtle but powerful series of ads running on the Seven And Ten networks that highlight the grief and loss felt by women (and men) who suffer the loss of an unborn child.  Be it because of miscarriage, stillbirth or even ...

Click here to read ACL's submission to the Victorian Law Reform Committee's Inquiry into Access By Donor-Conceived People to Information About Donors.

Saturday August 27, 2011 - Wednesday July 27, 2011 3-7 Springfield Rd Map and Directions | Register Description:Title: ACL Victorian Conference – Saturday August 27th, 2011 Location: New Hope Baptist Church, 3-7 Springfield Rd Blackburn North Descrip...

Victorian Director Rob Ward’s letter to supporters in the state is now available online. With half the year gone and lots happening on both the Victorian and Federal scene, there is much to report. Perhaps most exciting is to note the passing of l...

The recent passing of the Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill is good news for protecting religious freedom in Victoria. Under the Bill, Victorian faith-based groups will again be able to employ like-minded staff in their organisations without having to ...

Click here to read ACL's submission to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee on the Review of the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.

The Australian Christian Lobby will be making a submission into the review of the Victorian Charter of Rights. The ACL was concerned about the introduction of the Charter four years ago. Here is a brief summary of why the ACL is concerned about a Chart...

Title: Public Forum to hear the case against euthanasia - Melbourne Location: Christ Lecture Theatre, Australian Catholic University, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy Link out: Click here Description: The Ambrose Centre for Religious Liberty is hosting ...

Media Release For release: Friday May 27, 2011 The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today urged the Victorian Government to stand firm against a renewed push for a ‘safe’ injecting room in Melbourne. ACL Victoria Director Rob Ward said, “despi...

Click here to read ACL's submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission on amendments to guardianship laws.

Media Release For release: Friday May 6, 2011 The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today congratulated the Education Minister, Martin Dixon, for recognising the incredibly important work carried out by Chaplains in Victoria. Commenting on the Budget...

Title: Defending Marriage - Melbourne event Location: South Eastern Christian Centre, 2-8 Gleneagles Dve, Endeavour Hills Description: The ACL, along with ETHOS, The Australian Family Association and the Presbyterian Church of Victoria are pleased to...

Writing on the On Line Opinion website, the ACL’s Victorian Director Rob Ward has today responded to the recent “flurry of articles in The Age by militant secularists and atheists seeking to expunge Christianity from the classroom”. Voluntary Sp...

Victorian Director Rob Ward’s letter to supporters in the state is now available online. By the time you get to read this letter, we will be just a few weeks away from the annual ACL fundraising dinner in Melbourne. With former Deputy Prime Minis...

Victorian Director Rob Ward's letter to supporters in the state is now available online.  By the time you get to read this letter, we will be just a few weeks away from the annual ACL fundraising dinner in Melbourne. With former Deputy Prime Minist...

For release: 31st March 2011 [caption id="attachment_5859" align="alignright" width="283" caption="The story reported in The Age"][/caption] The Australian Christian Lobby said a report in today’s Melbourne Age revealing human trafficking in legal...

The Victorian Government has introduced legislation (The Liquor Control Reform Amendment Bill 2011) that will assist parents to restrict children from accessing alcohol though a loophole in the law.  Currently it is not an offence to supply alcohol to...

MEDIA RELEASE [caption id="attachment_5830" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Victorian Director Rob Ward"][/caption]   For release: Wednesday 30th March   It is not the job of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commi...

MEDIA RELEASE For release: Monday 21st March 2011 The Australian Christian Lobby is calling on the Victorian Government to reconsider its proposal for trading on Easter Sunday when a bill to usher in the change is debated in Parliament later this wee...

There has been a significant increase in the number of women using IVF and other assisted reproduction procedures in recent months, according to a media report today. This is because the law in Victoria has allowed for Medicare rebates for women who ar...

The Australia Christian Lobby is calling on the Victorian government to intervene in the state’s education and remove disturbing books that directs school kids to write suicide notes. “Concerns raised by parents and experts such as Michael Carr-Gr...

VIC Director Rob Ward's letter to supporters in the state is available online. February already! What a tumultuous few months we have experienced across the country with floods, cyclones and bushfires; it seems nobody is unaffected, from those losing...

MEDIA RELEASE For release: December 21, 2010 The Australian Christian Lobby today supported the Victorian government’s moves to investigate the viability of safe haven laws and to pursue the issue at a national level. ACL spokesperson, Michelle Pe...

MEDIA RELEASE The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today responded to a call by the Safe Schools Coalition Victoria (SSCV) for schools to bring children along to a gay pride event. “All schools should be safe schools, but using Government funding t...

With the announcement just after lunchtime on 14th December that the Coalition had achieved a majority of 21 seats in the Legislative Council, we can now wrap up commentary on the 2010 Victorian Election. Ted Baillieu and his team have achieved what m...

It has been a few days since our last posting here, not because we have had nothing to report, but because there has been so much going on! We know now that the Liberal–National Coalition has won the required 45 seats in the Legislative Assembly (Lo...

Media Release The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today supported the right of workers at a Victorian paper mill to be able to choose to spend Christmas Day with their families. ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said staff at Australian Paper’s Ma...

ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace writes in The Australian that the come from behind victory of Ted Baillieu and the Coalition in Saturday's Victorian election was a victory based on leadership, character and values. He encourages Julia Gillard and ...

Media Release The massive swing towards the Liberal/National Coalition in Saturday’s Victorian election spells out a message to both major parties that they should resist dancing to the Greens’ tune and instead lead from a position of principle, t...

It’s An Election Wrap! (well almost!) With just one day left for campaigning in the Victorian election, now might be the time to review the big picture, remind ourselves of what has gone on and wrap it up. For ALL the reports and information on the...

ALP & The Greens, Final forum & Emily’s List Interesting to see a number of newspaper reports today sounding the same alarm as we have, concerned about the impact of a Green/Labor marriage of convenience. Wayne Swan speaks out here. And als...

One of the sad reflections on this campaign might be how it has denigrated to being personal rather than about the real issues. Did Ted Baillieu do anything wrong when the Real Estate company that bears his family name acted for the Government all thos...

Media Release The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today called on Premier John Brumby to assure Victorians that he would not enter into a deal with the radical Greens to secure a hold on government in the event of a hung Parliament after Saturday’s...

Health, law & order, transport and planning continue to be the issues most covered by the mainstream media.  Education matters such as promises of more schools and camps for students in Year 9 also get attention. But what about other matters?  I...

Democracy served? Last night ACL did its bit again for democracy, running a number of candidate forums that attracted over 200 people.  Candidates spoke about why they should get your vote, shared something about themselves and then responded to ques...

With the actual date drawing even closer, the barrage of ideas, polices and statements are reaching fever pitch.  Everything from boot camp for students to 40 new trains, more hospital beds, more police and more promises keep on coming! Some business...

Media Release The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today congratulated the Victorian Liberals and Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu in particular for deciding to preference the Greens last in every seat in the upcoming State election. ACL Victorian Dire...

A Sunday reflection. It was Remembrance day during the week. A time to pause and reflect on the incredibly high price paid by those that went before us, preserving and protecting our freedoms. It is sad to think that we may well lose these freedoms, w...

Last night saw a further 2 forums, in the electorates of Bayswater and Mordialloc.  One is currently held by the Libs the other by the ALP. Unfortunately the ALP candidate did not make an appearance at the Bayswater forum. Again the regular issues we...

Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu has confirmed to the ACL that he and his party are opposed to same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption. Following an article (offline) in yesterday’s The Age entitled ‘Baillieu Warms to Gay Marriage Bill, Br...

The Age today (sorry, not online) carried a headline “Baillieu Warms to Gay Marriage Bill, Brumby passes”. Can you imagine how the calls and emails came in! So, we checked the facts. The Liberal Party has NOT changed its position on gay marriage...

The first ACL Candidates forum for this election was held  last night, it was attended by a small but interested crowd drawn from local churches in the electorate of Hastings, south east of Melbourne. All four candidates made their case for the Chris...

Victorian Director Rob Ward’s letter to supporters in the State is available online. The “Green-slide” remains a great concern as we move towards the November 27 Victorian election. Polls change and give differing indications of how the election...

Media Release The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today rejected outright claims by Victorian Greens MP Colleen Hartland that the organisation has a “hatred of gays” as an outrageous slur designed to shut down debate on genuine issues of concern....

With less than a month to go before the Victorian election, there are many potential issues to weigh up and party policies to consider to cast an informed vote. An excellent pre-election video posted on YouTube is asking people to seriously consider ho...

Media Release Both the Victorian Labor Government and the Liberal-Nationals Coalition will support the independence of faith-based schools to teach from a Christian perspective but neither party has agreed to amend abortion laws to ensure doctors with...

Only 23 days to go, 15 candidate forums and lots to do! Problems for both major parties today with the high profile gay Liberal candidate for Richmond pulling out and standing as an independent, and Bronwyn Pike upsetting parents by allegedly turning ...