MEDIA RELEASE



21st November 2013



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.



“The rights of children are less protected under this framework then being in the criminal code which acknowledges this is not just another medical procedure,” he said.



He said women will have less restrictions to accessing abortion now that they didn’t have to get doctors' consent for medical or psychological reasons until after 16 weeks.



“This means there’s less likelihood of a woman having informed consent about her decision. The majority of women and girls who have abortions do so because of a lack of support from partners, parents and friends. Research shows 70% of women say they felt they had no alternative to abortion ,” he said.



Mr Brown said although aspects of the bill are less objectionable than originally, freedom of conscience hasn’t been upheld.



“The law requires doctors with a conscientious objection to pass on a pamphlet with the options. But many doctors who are opposed to abortion say that they still feel complicit in the process by handing someone a document with a pamphlet of services,” he said.



“Freedom of speech has also been a casualty in this bill with the introduction of fines and the possibility of 12 month jail term for those who might hold a silent vigil outside an abortion clinic,” he said.



Mr Brown has praised those MLCs who voted against the legislation – Windemere MLC Ivan Dean, Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage, Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor, Montgomery Liberal MLC Leonie Hiscutt and Rumney MLC Tony Mulder.



ENDS

In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on issues such as outdoor advertising, classification and abortion in Tasmania. See below for links to mentions in the media.



On the abortion report in Tasmania:

• Christian Today Australia - Abortion report ignores the rights of babies

On outdoor advertising in Queensland:

• The Daily Telegraph - Standing up to the politically-correct bully boys

On classification:

• Sydney Morning Herald - CEO of Australia's video games peak body talks classification

MEDIA RELEASE



Wednesday, 13th November 2013



The Australian Christian Lobby said it’s disappointed a Tasmanian parliamentary report on abortion missed the key issue in the debate over decriminalising abortion – the baby.



ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown said the finding by the upper house standing committee report into the Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill 2013 failed to make an adequate case to remove abortion from the criminal code.



“Abortion should remain in the criminal code. It is an appropriate place when the life of a child is at stake,” Mr Brown said.



Mr Brown said whilst ACL welcomed the committees’ finding that the $32,500 proposed fines for counsellors who have a conscientious objection to abortion and refuses to refer a woman onto a service is excessive, there shouldn’t be fines at all.



Mr Brown said the committee has failed to realise that the bill suppresses free speech through supporting jail time for those who might protest outside abortion clinics.



“A free and democratic society should allow those who may disagree with the practice of abortion to express their views in visible displays such as prayer vigils and silent protests,” he said.



He said it was equally disappointing the report findings failed to give doctors with a conscientious objection the freedom from being compelled to refer a woman onto someone else.



“If a doctor or counsellor is opposed to abortion on the moral grounds of not taking innocent life, they must have the freedom not to be complicit in the process,” he said.

“The issue of conscientious objection is one that Victorian doctors are currently fighting to change in their state laws,” he said.

Mr Brown said there were several reasons terminations weren’t being performed at public hospitals beyond the one identified by the committees’ findings.



“The report concludes that fear of criminal prosecution is a barrier to terminating unborn babies at public hospitals. This may be the case but it is not the only reason abortions are not routinely performed in the public system – staff had strong conscientious objections for religious and other reasons. However, this wasn’t included in the findings.



“The issue of fear of criminal prosecution from doctors should be addressed via education rather than legislation,” he said.



Mr Brown said ACL would continue to advocate for the rights of the unborn and urge supporters to contact their members to vote against this bill.



ENDS

In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on same-sex marriage bills in NSW and Tasmania. See below for links to mentions in the media.



ACL's NSW Director David Hutt spoke to 2ser about the introduction of a same-sex marriage bill into the NSW Parliament:

• 2ser 107.3fm - Same Sex Marriage: NSW to Introduce Its Own Bill

On redefining marriage in Tasmania:

• ABC News - Tasmanian Upper House set to vote on reviving same-sex marriage bill



• Christian Today Australia - Defeat of same-sex marriage motion in Tas signals time to move on

A motion to reintroduce last year’s same-sex marriage bill in Tasmania’s upper house was this week defeated eight votes to six. During a long day of speeches, those supporting the motion tried in vain to convince those who had opposed the bill last year that new information presented was reason enough to bring back the bill for debate.



Much of the argument centred on legal opinions. Preeminent constitutional lawyer Bret Walker SC had given his legal opinion that Tasmania’s same-sex marriage legislation was constitutional and could withstand an inevitable High Court challenge. This advice was backed by a Law Reform Institute Paper. ACL had provided a counter opinion from highly credentialed lawyers/professors which helped many MLC’s to conclude that opinion was just as divided now as it was in 2012, some even using the term “lawyer shopping” to describe events since last year.



Sadly, as was the case in the previous debate, there were moments when the passion on the part of those supporting the motion crossed a line into what could be best described as manipulation for those unwilling to show “leadership” and support the motion. Such subtle pressure is also being applied to the general public via the media. This was clearly illustrated outside parliament immediately after the debate when a reporter from a well known national media outlet was uninterested in getting any opinion from anyone other than the gay lobby.



As was the case last year, it is likely that MLC’s who rejected the motion will be the targets of abuse and therefore will need our prayers and encouragement. Please send them a short letter of thanks (Note: although Legislative Council President Jim Wilkinson did not vote, he made it clear that he would not support such a motion should he have the casting vote).



jim.wilkinson@parliament.tas.gov.au; paul.harriss@parliament.tas.gov.au; tania.rattray@parliament.tas.gov.au; adriana.taylor@parliament.tas.gov.au; greg.hall@parliament.tas.gov.au; leonie.hiscutt@parliament.tas.gov.au; vanessa.goodwin@parliament.tas.gov.au; ivan.dean@parliament.tas.gov.au; rosemary.armitage@parliament.tas.gov.au



We are grateful to God that attempts to introduce euthanasia and same-sex “marriage” legislation this month have been thwarted. Our attention is now focused on the issue of abortion with debate on a bill to decriminalise abortion in Tasmania likely mid November. Please keep Tasmania in your prayers.



Mark Brown, Tasmanian Director



PO Box 89

Riverside TAS 7250

0408 850 629

MEDIA RELEASE



For release: Tuesday 29th October 2013



The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has welcomed the defeat of a same-sex marriage motion in the Tasmanian Upper House this evening.



ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown says today’s decision by Legislative Council Members (MLCs) not to reconsider proposed same-sex marriage laws should send a clear message that it’s time to move on from this tiresome debate.



“This legislation was defeated in the parliament only last year. This debate has become wearisome. It is a low order priority for the majority of Australians and it is time to move on. There is no discrimination in Tasmanian law against same-sex couples – there is no need to redefine marriage.



“In the past 12 months same-sex marriage bills have been defeated in the federal House of Representatives, the Senate, the Tasmanian Parliament, and the South Australian Parliament. This was just another attempt to pass legislation by fatigue.



“Australia should have one law for marriage and it should be determined by the Federal Parliament. We only need look at recent events in the ACT to know that Tasmanian same-sex legislation would likely be challenged in the High Court if it were passed.



“It is not in Australia’s best interests to have a hodgepodge of marriage laws,” he said.



Mr Brown also said the failure of today’s motion was a win for families and the rights of children.



“Marriage between a man and a woman provides a natural, timeless and sustainable foundation for our society. It serves as the best, most stable environment where society can nurture and protect its next generation.



“Every child owes their existence to a mum and a dad and same-sex marriage would deny children the right to know their biological heritage,” he said.

In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on issues such as euthanasia in Tasmania, and same-sex marriage legislation in the ACT. See below for links to mentions in the media.



On same-sex marriage in the ACT:

• LifeSiteNews - Australian Capital Territory legalizes gay 'marriage'

On euthanasia in Tasmania:

• The Catholic Leader - Euthanasia bill's defeat gives hope

Last Thursday, the Tasmanian lower house rejected a bill to legalise voluntary euthanasia in the state.



The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, co-sponsored by Premier Lara Giddings and Greens leader Nick McKim, was defeated 13 votes to 11.



Labor House of Assembly Members Michael Polley, Brian Wightman and Brenton Best joined the ten Liberals and voted against the legislation.



This is a great win for the dignity of human life, given the campaigning of euthanasia supporters in the week leading up to the debate, particularly on the part of right-to-die advocate Philip Nitschke.



Last month the Prime Minister Tony Abbott was asked about the legislation and said he would prefer to keep to the status quo. He acknowledged the current practice between doctors and patients where pain relief is often administered which may, as a secondary effect, shorten life. This is not euthanasia because there is no intention to kill – its firstly focused on the comfort, symptom management and pain relief of the patient. Euthanasia and assisted suicide is the deliberate killing of someone by action or omission.



The Tasmanian government should be focussed on improving palliative care services.



Thank you to all of you who've been working, praying, and corresponding with MPs over this important issue. Your dedication to and support of the most vulnerable in our society does not go unnoticed.



If you're a Tasmanian resident, please take a few minutes to send a quick email to the MPs who opposed the legislation to thank them for their stand against this potentially dangerous bill.

• michael.polley@parliament.tas.gov.au 



• brenton.best@parliament.tas.gov.au



• brian.wightman@parliament.tas.gov.au 



• mark.shelton@parliament.tas.gov.au



• jeremy.rockliff@parliament.tas.gov.au



• jacquie.petrusma@parliament.tas.gov.au 



• will.hodgman@parliament.tas.gov.au 



• rene.hidding@parliament.tas.gov.au 



• peter.gutwein@parliament.tas.gov.au



• matthew.groom@parliament.tas.gov.au



• michael.ferguson@parliament.tas.gov.au



• adam.brooks@parliament.tas.gov.au



• elise.archer@parliament.tas.gov.au

For many years, parliaments across Australia have repeatedly rejected legalised voluntary euthanasia - South Australia in 2009, 2010 and 2012, Victoria in 2008, and Western Australian in 2010.



The last time euthanasia was debated in the Tasmanian Parliament was in 2009 when Greens MP Nick McKim’s Dying with Dignity Bill was resoundingly rejected 15 votes to 7.



ACL ran a 'Make a Stand' campaign against the legislation in the lead up to its debate.



 

The ACL's monthly newsletter, which includes a column from ACL's Managing Director Lyle Shelton, is out now. This month's newsletter includes stories on Tasmania's euthanasia bill, same-sex marriage in the ACT, post-federal election polling, and classification rules for video games. Click here to read the October newsletter.

In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on the new Bonds advertisement and outdoor advertising, disruption at the March for the Babies in Melbourne, and a same-sex marriage motion in Tasmania. See below for links to mentions in the media.



On the Bonds advertisement:

• The Courier Mail - New Bonds "Boob" campaign under investigation by Advertising Standards Board

On March for the Babies:

• Christian Today Australia - Shocking scenes as 50 radicals try to disrupt March for the Babies 

On same-sex marriage in Tasmania:

• ABC News - High Court challenge key to state gay marriage laws: report  (ACL's Tasmanian Director Mark Brown features in the online video in the article)

ACL's Managing Director Lyle Shelton was also quoted in Tasmanian newspaper The Examiner on Monday 14th October on taking a religious oath in the state's parliament. Click here to read the published article.