On Wednesday, 10 June 2020, ACL participated in the Victorian Government’s 'Review into the Decriminalisation of Sex Work'. This review of prostitution covered commercial brothels and escort agencies, massage parlours and similar businesses, in small owner-operated businesses, and on the streets.

I spent my late teens and early 20s – more than six years – in discipleship ministry to young people. They were mostly refugees from Africa, racial minorities, and Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. I poured everything I had into these kids. I was privileged to know them better than most.

Do you remember all those letters South Australians wrote to their State Coordinator, urging him not to use his Covid-19 emergency powers to change abortion law? Recently, South Australia’s Chief Public Health Officer wrote:

"The current legislation on abortion was not specifically changed by the [Covid-19 Emergency] Response Act. Accordingly, the legislation governing pregnancy terminations remains as agreed by Parliament prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to not change the current legislation on abortion was influenced by the fact that there was no evidence that this core health service had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic."

(emphasis, by ACL)

George Floyd’s death is a tragedy.

A police officer abused his power and a man died. The officer should be punished accordingly, and he has been.

Last Tuesday, the Australian Christian Lobby called out the NSW government’s approach of imposing greater COVID-19 restrictions on churches than on pubs, clubs and restaurants, saying it failed the ‘pub test’.

The upcoming 4 July by-election in the Federal seat of Eden-Monaro is of national significance for people of faith across the nation.

With Labor yet to take a position on Scott Morrison’s religious discrimination bill, a Liberal victory in the seat would provide more certainty for the passage of the legislation, which seeks to ensure religious freedom is protected for all Australians.

Celebrating National Palliative Care Week

This week is National Palliative Care Week.

The ACL team is very grateful to the amazing nurses, doctors, staff and volunteers who provide a level of care and professionalism that is almost unmatched anywhere else in the world.

In encouraging news for parents, a complaint by parent ‘Anne’ about the gender-fluidity resource ‘The Genderbread Person’ has resulted in the resource being withdrawn from a NSW public high school.

There is a major problem in Australia, especially New South Wales.

On Tuesday, 12 May I ran a Zoom training session on meeting with MPs. Our focus was opposing the current push for abortion-to-birth legislation in South Australia. Over 35 people attended.