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.
Children & Family
Shocked Education Minister orders probe into student suicides, mental health issue among teensEvonne Barry – Herald SunVictorian Education Minister Martin Dixon has ordered an investigation after schools registered "a spate of alerts" about the mental health of students during VCE exams last month. Department officials have found that, on average, one Victorian student attempts suicide each week of the school year.
Pope's family values in New EvangelisationCatholic NewsPope Benedict has pointed to the traditional Christian family as a key agent in the New Evangelisation, saying heterosexual marriages open to having children provided “the human space for an encounter with Christ” in our world.
Drugs & Alcohol
Woman says she saw Sydney friend killedMargaret Scheikowski - SMHA woman injected ice, drank alcohol and played poker machines with her lover after seeing him choke, drown and sexually defile her friend, a judge has been told. Debbra Hogden told police she had feared her lover, who said "she would be next", so she did exactly what she was told.
Environment
Greens call Durban summit a case of climate changeLauren Wilson and Leo Shanahan – The AustralianGreens deputy leader Christine Milne has derided the UN summit in Durban as a victory for political spin, while Tony Abbott says it proves this will be a "do-nothing decade for global action". As Climate Change Minister Greg Combet yesterday made his way back home claiming a "significant breakthrough" had been achieved, the opposition ramped up its attack on the Treasury modelling underpinning the carbon tax.
Gillard hails Durban climate dealSMHPrime Minister Julia Gillard insists an international climate deal justifies her U-turn on introducing a carbon tax. About 190 nations, including some the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters such as the US and China, have agreed on a last-ditch deal to develop a global pact for reducing emissions by 2015.
Gambling
Inquiry rejects online gambling BillKaren Dearne – The AustralianA parliamentary inquiry into online gambling has rejected proposed legislation by Senator Nick Xenophon aimed at stopping Australians using offshore betting sites.The South Australian independent’s bill, which encompasses other measures including bans on live betting during sports events and a crackdown on advertising, did not gain majority support from the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform.
Marriage
Coalition rejects same-sex marriage pushThe AustralianOpposition Leader Tony Abbott says the Coalition will continue to regard marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman, despite Labor backing same-sex marriage. Mr Abbott said shadow cabinet had today resolved to maintain the Coalition's current position, ahead of a likely Labor conscience vote on the issue.
Turnbull follows party line against gay marriage lawsMichelle Grattan – The AgeMalcolm Turnbull lost the argument for a gay marriage conscience vote at shadow cabinet yesterday, but said he would abide by the result. ''As a member of the shadow cabinet you can assume that I will vote in accordance with the collective decision of the shadow cabinet,'' he told The Age last night.
Gay marriage battle in ThrosbyMario Christodoulou – Illawarra MercuryWollongong Labor MP Noreen Hay has led a rebellion against Labor federal counterpart Stephen Jones, winning a key motion in his seat of Throsby which undermines his public stance on same-sex marriage. The humiliating defeat reflects widespread anger among ALP members in Mr Jones' electorate, who feel they were not consulted about his position on the issue.
Kevin Rudd's sister quits Labor over gay marriage policyBridie Jabour - SMHKevin Rudd's sister has quit the Australian Labor Party, saying she cannot back a party that supports "homosexuals marrying." Loree Rudd, 61, said she sent the letter to her Nambour branch last week after a policy shift at the ALP National Conference on December 3.
Politics
Gillard unveils expanded CabinetJeremy Thompson – ABCBill Shorten, one of the so-called faceless men who engineered Julia Gillard's leadership coup last year, is the biggest winner in her ministerial reshuffle today. Mr Shorten will move into Cabinet, shifting from Assistant Treasurer into the key Workplace Relations portfolio, with another "faceless man", Mark Arbib, becoming Assistant Treasurer and Small Business Minister.
Nicola Roxon says no to bill of rightsSue Dunlevy – The AustralianNicola Roxon, who will be sworn in as the nation's first female attorney-general, plans to toughen anti-discrimination laws, promote human rights and reignite the debate on Australia becoming a republic.
Religious Freedom & PersecutionNorth Korean despot threatens to shoot down 100ft ‘Christmas tree’ erected near border by enemy SouthRichard Shears – Daily MailAtheist North Korea has threatened to shoot out the lights of a giant Christmas tree-shaped tower that South Korea plans to illuminate near the tense border.The Communist North warned its southern enemy of ‘unexpected consequences’ if it went ahead to turn on the lights.
Sexualisation of Society
Porn: how you need to see itNick Coombs – Melbourne AnglicanThe easy availability if internet porn means that one-in-three Christians now struggle with pornography says Nick Coombs, who recently led a five week course on porn addiction, ‘The Fight’, for 30 men at the Anglican church of City on a Hill.