Margaret Court deserves Australia Day award
The Australian Christian Lobby celebrates the news that Margaret Court will be made a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Read moreVic ‘Change and Suppression bill’ update
The Change and Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020 introduced by the Andrews Labor government passed the Victorian lower house and is disturbingly now one step closer to becoming law.
Read moreDaniel Andrews’ Anti-Conversion Bill Built on Lies
The Australian Christian Lobby has condemned the Andrews government’s Change and Suppression (Conversion) Prohibition Bill, noting that it is built on lies.
Read moreChurches locked out of Andrews pathway from lockdown
Victorians are relieved to see lockdown restrictions easing, but while retail and hospitality sectors can open from 2 November, churches and other faith communities remain in the dark about their future.
Read moreSchool freedom denied by Daniel Andrews
MEDIA RELEASE
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews’ plans to force the Safe Schools Coalition Victoria programme on to every government high school threatens the autonomy of principals and school communities, the Australian Christian Lobby has said.
ACL Victoria Director Dan Flynn said individual schools should retain the discretion to opt in to the Safe Schools programme or an alternative anti-bullying strategy.
“Not every school community wants to adopt the Safe Schools programme,” Mr Flynn said. “Some principals have adopted the system while many others prefer an alternative approach.”
Mr Flynn added that the Safe Schools programme was controversial and many parents were opposed to the messages it was sending.
“ACL strongly opposes bullying for any reason, but Safe Schools has the potential to increase gender confusion in young people,” Mr Flynn said. “Its promotional material includes an image of a boy wearing a dress. It wants to allow boys to use girls’ bathrooms and girls to use boys’ bathrooms.”
This is another concerning attack on school freedom, with the ALP also planning to introduce an “inherent requirements” test into the Equal Opportunity Act.
“The inherent requirements test would severely restrict the fundamental freedom of faith-based schools to appoint staff who uphold the ethos and character of the school,” Mr Flynn said.
“This policy has caused enormous concern among the community,” he said.
Mr Andrews’ announcement on the weekend also included a promise to appoint a dedicated commissioner for gender and sexuality and legalising same-sex adoption.
“The raft of policies announced by Mr Andrews on the weekend shows he has been captured by a radical agenda that tramples on the fundamental freedoms of others, including the school community,” Mr Flynn said.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews’ plans to force the Safe Schools Coalition Victoria programme on to every government high school threatens the autonomy of principals and school communities, the Australian Christian Lobby has said.
ACL Victoria Director Dan Flynn said individual schools should retain the discretion to opt in to the Safe Schools programme or an alternative anti-bullying strategy.
“Not every school community wants to adopt the Safe Schools programme,” Mr Flynn said. “Some principals have adopted the system while many others prefer an alternative approach.”
Mr Flynn added that the Safe Schools programme was controversial and many parents were opposed to the messages it was sending.
“ACL strongly opposes bullying for any reason, but Safe Schools has the potential to increase gender confusion in young people,” Mr Flynn said. “Its promotional material includes an image of a boy wearing a dress. It wants to allow boys to use girls’ bathrooms and girls to use boys’ bathrooms.”
This is another concerning attack on school freedom, with the ALP also planning to introduce an “inherent requirements” test into the Equal Opportunity Act.
“The inherent requirements test would severely restrict the fundamental freedom of faith-based schools to appoint staff who uphold the ethos and character of the school,” Mr Flynn said.
“This policy has caused enormous concern among the community,” he said.
Mr Andrews’ announcement on the weekend also included a promise to appoint a dedicated commissioner for gender and sexuality and legalising same-sex adoption.
“The raft of policies announced by Mr Andrews on the weekend shows he has been captured by a radical agenda that tramples on the fundamental freedoms of others, including the school community,” Mr Flynn said.
ACL Praises Church Leaders' Resolve Against ALP Policy
MEDIA RELEASE
In a remarkable show of unity, Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Coptic, Lutheran, and Presbyterian leaders have this week affirmed the existing equal opportunity laws and opposed the ALP’s intended restrictions on employment in religious organisations.
“This joint statement shows how important freedom of association and freedom of religion is to a huge number of people in Victoria,” ACL's Victorian director Dan Flynn said.
The effect of the ALP proposal is that a Christian church will no longer have a right to employ a Christian secretary if a non-Christian applicant is more qualified, unless the church can prove to the Human Rights Commission that religion is an essential part of the role. This could result in people with opposing values being employed in Christian churches.
The proposed ALP changes, objected to by the church leaders, would require faith based schools to prove to the Human Rights Commission that preferring to employ a Christian teacher over a non-Christian teacher was because faith is an essential requirement of that teaching role.
Schools and religious organisations will be caught up in lengthy, costly and divisive court cases instead of delivering education and other services.
The statement of the church leaders said that “proposals to change the equal opportunity laws would allow judges to decide fundamental doctrines, beliefs and principles tenants of a faith for religious bodies.”
“Some faith-based schools seek to uphold a particular ethos and environment by employing people who will uphold that ethos regardless of the role they play in the school,” Mr Flynn said.
“Many parents wish to give their children an education consistent with their faith. Faith based education is not just about the content of the education but the context in which it is taught. This right is acknowledged in international human rights law and is now threatened by the ALP’s policy,” he said.
Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne Philip Freier said in the statement that “The current Equal Opportunity laws strike a fair balance between the right to equality, freedom of association and religious liberty”.
Mr Flynn said that during the Victorian election campaign, ACL has conducted 14 “Meet Your Candidate” forums across Victoria, from Bairnsdale to Ballarat. Almost universally, when questioned about the proposed changes, ALP candidates have defended them on the basis that they were supported by the Catholic Church in 2010.
“It is now clear that the Catholic Church and other major denominations do not support the reinsertion of the “inherent requirements test” in the Act,” he said.
Mr Flynn added that over 3,500 individuals have emailed Daniel Andrews and his candidates explaining their opposition to the policy.
“The ALP’s policy has been a key issue in ACL’s election campaigning and has created enormous grass roots concern across the state,” he said.
In a remarkable show of unity, Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Coptic, Lutheran, and Presbyterian leaders have this week affirmed the existing equal opportunity laws and opposed the ALP’s intended restrictions on employment in religious organisations.
“This joint statement shows how important freedom of association and freedom of religion is to a huge number of people in Victoria,” ACL's Victorian director Dan Flynn said.
The effect of the ALP proposal is that a Christian church will no longer have a right to employ a Christian secretary if a non-Christian applicant is more qualified, unless the church can prove to the Human Rights Commission that religion is an essential part of the role. This could result in people with opposing values being employed in Christian churches.
The proposed ALP changes, objected to by the church leaders, would require faith based schools to prove to the Human Rights Commission that preferring to employ a Christian teacher over a non-Christian teacher was because faith is an essential requirement of that teaching role.
Schools and religious organisations will be caught up in lengthy, costly and divisive court cases instead of delivering education and other services.
The statement of the church leaders said that “proposals to change the equal opportunity laws would allow judges to decide fundamental doctrines, beliefs and principles tenants of a faith for religious bodies.”
“Some faith-based schools seek to uphold a particular ethos and environment by employing people who will uphold that ethos regardless of the role they play in the school,” Mr Flynn said.
“Many parents wish to give their children an education consistent with their faith. Faith based education is not just about the content of the education but the context in which it is taught. This right is acknowledged in international human rights law and is now threatened by the ALP’s policy,” he said.
Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne Philip Freier said in the statement that “The current Equal Opportunity laws strike a fair balance between the right to equality, freedom of association and religious liberty”.
Mr Flynn said that during the Victorian election campaign, ACL has conducted 14 “Meet Your Candidate” forums across Victoria, from Bairnsdale to Ballarat. Almost universally, when questioned about the proposed changes, ALP candidates have defended them on the basis that they were supported by the Catholic Church in 2010.
“It is now clear that the Catholic Church and other major denominations do not support the reinsertion of the “inherent requirements test” in the Act,” he said.
Mr Flynn added that over 3,500 individuals have emailed Daniel Andrews and his candidates explaining their opposition to the policy.
“The ALP’s policy has been a key issue in ACL’s election campaigning and has created enormous grass roots concern across the state,” he said.
Victorian Premier and Opposition Leader pledge to allow conscience vote on forcing doctors to participate in abortion
MEDIA RELEASE
The Victorian Premier and Opposition Leader will allow a conscience vote if a private members’ bill is introduced to restore freedom to doctors to decline to participate in abortion.
Denis Napthine and Daniel Andrews were responding to questions from Christian leaders at the Australian Christian Lobby’s Make it Count forum at Queens’ Hall, Parliament House last night.
Their commitments come following sanctions imposed on Melbourne Doctor Mark Hobart, who declined to assist a couple who wanted their baby girl aborted so they could try again for a boy.
“If a private members’ bill was introduced then we would certainly allow a conscience vote,” Dr Napthine said.
“My position would be to afford a conscience vote,” Mr Andrews said.
ACL Victorian Director Dan Flynn welcomed the leaders’ commitments to allow a parliamentary vote on whether or not doctors should be forced to participate in abortion by making a referral for an abortion.
“No one should be forced to go against their conscience on an issue which involves the taking of a human life,” Mr Flynn said.
The leaders were asked about a range of issues including domestic violence, freedom of religion, poker machine reform and the ice epidemic.
Asked whether “your Government (would) commission independent research into whether there are features in poker machines that lead to gambling addiction”, Mr Andrews committed to examining “the best research, the best evidence”.
On family violence, Dr Napthine said: “Men particularly need to stand up”.
Mr Andrews said family violence was the leading cause of death or disability for women aged 45 and under and was “national disgrace”.
On religious freedom, Mr Flynn expressed disappointment about Labor’s election policy, reiterated last night by Mr Andrews, to amend Equal Opportunity laws to diminish the freedom of faith-based schools to employ staff who share their ethos.
Dr Napthine was called away from the forum to deal with last night’s terrorism-related shooting of an Islamic extremist just moments before Mr Andrews concluded taking questions.
The pre-election Make it Count event was attended by 150 Christian leaders from a wide cross-section of denominations and churches.
The Victorian Premier and Opposition Leader will allow a conscience vote if a private members’ bill is introduced to restore freedom to doctors to decline to participate in abortion.
Denis Napthine and Daniel Andrews were responding to questions from Christian leaders at the Australian Christian Lobby’s Make it Count forum at Queens’ Hall, Parliament House last night.
Their commitments come following sanctions imposed on Melbourne Doctor Mark Hobart, who declined to assist a couple who wanted their baby girl aborted so they could try again for a boy.
“If a private members’ bill was introduced then we would certainly allow a conscience vote,” Dr Napthine said.
“My position would be to afford a conscience vote,” Mr Andrews said.
ACL Victorian Director Dan Flynn welcomed the leaders’ commitments to allow a parliamentary vote on whether or not doctors should be forced to participate in abortion by making a referral for an abortion.
“No one should be forced to go against their conscience on an issue which involves the taking of a human life,” Mr Flynn said.
The leaders were asked about a range of issues including domestic violence, freedom of religion, poker machine reform and the ice epidemic.
Asked whether “your Government (would) commission independent research into whether there are features in poker machines that lead to gambling addiction”, Mr Andrews committed to examining “the best research, the best evidence”.
On family violence, Dr Napthine said: “Men particularly need to stand up”.
Mr Andrews said family violence was the leading cause of death or disability for women aged 45 and under and was “national disgrace”.
On religious freedom, Mr Flynn expressed disappointment about Labor’s election policy, reiterated last night by Mr Andrews, to amend Equal Opportunity laws to diminish the freedom of faith-based schools to employ staff who share their ethos.
Dr Napthine was called away from the forum to deal with last night’s terrorism-related shooting of an Islamic extremist just moments before Mr Andrews concluded taking questions.
The pre-election Make it Count event was attended by 150 Christian leaders from a wide cross-section of denominations and churches.