ACL interviews Tas Liberal leader Will Hodgman
In this lead up to the Tasmanian election on the 15th of March, the ACL's Tasmanian Director Mark Brown interviewed Liberal Leader Will Hodgman on a range of issues. Mark Brown invited Labor Premier Lara Giddings to do an interview but declined. Her office has said she would provide a written response to the questions. This is a 10 minute excerpt of the interview Mr Brown did with Mr Hodgman. The full interview can be found on www.tasvotes.org.au
MR: ACL urges Tasmanian Government to reject proposed changes to adoption laws
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 26th June 2013
Amendments to adoption laws in Tasmania would deny children the right to be raised by a mother and a father, according to the Australian Christian Lobby.
Proposed changes to the Adoption Act 1988 - likely to be debated in the upper house on Thursday - would allow those registered with a significant relationship, including unmarried and same-sex couples, to adopt an unknown child.
ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown has urged the government to reject the changes in order to protect the rights of vulnerable children.
“Children’s interests are best met, where possible, in the stability of a married relationship with the complementary love of a mum and dad,” he said.
“Every child should have the right to be raised by both a mother and a father – each parent differently and subsequently provide a diversity and balance in a child’s development,” he said.
Under current law, only heterosexual couples married for more than three years are eligible to adopt.
“Governments who are considering the ‘rights’ of same-sex couples wanting to adopt should first and foremost consider whether allowing them to do so will serve the best interests of children.
“A large number of heterosexual couples have waited years for the opportunity to adopt, so it is difficult to understand how placing an adopted child in a home where they will be denied the benefit of having a mother and a father could ever be in a child’s best interest,” Mr Brown said.
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Wednesday, 26th June 2013
Amendments to adoption laws in Tasmania would deny children the right to be raised by a mother and a father, according to the Australian Christian Lobby.
Proposed changes to the Adoption Act 1988 - likely to be debated in the upper house on Thursday - would allow those registered with a significant relationship, including unmarried and same-sex couples, to adopt an unknown child.
ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown has urged the government to reject the changes in order to protect the rights of vulnerable children.
“Children’s interests are best met, where possible, in the stability of a married relationship with the complementary love of a mum and dad,” he said.
“Every child should have the right to be raised by both a mother and a father – each parent differently and subsequently provide a diversity and balance in a child’s development,” he said.
Under current law, only heterosexual couples married for more than three years are eligible to adopt.
“Governments who are considering the ‘rights’ of same-sex couples wanting to adopt should first and foremost consider whether allowing them to do so will serve the best interests of children.
“A large number of heterosexual couples have waited years for the opportunity to adopt, so it is difficult to understand how placing an adopted child in a home where they will be denied the benefit of having a mother and a father could ever be in a child’s best interest,” Mr Brown said.
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MR: Tasmania’s election results do not support same-sex marriage
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 6th May 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) says it is disingenuous of Greens leader Nick McKim and Marriage Equality’s Rodney Croome to see the weekend’s upper house election results as showing majority support for same-sex marriage.
ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown says it’s presumptuous post election commentary for Mr McKim and Mr Croome to claim the public want to redefine marriage in the state after the weekend results because “a majority of voters across the three electorates voted in support of marriage equality candidates”.
“It’s nothing but spin to turn the weekend’s results, which were a disastrous result for same-sex marriage advocates because the three candidates elected don’t support same-sex marriage, into a ‘positive news story’,” he said.
“The facts are self-evident: candidates with a more conservative stance on social issues won comfortably in all three electorates. This is a clear message from the community to the upper house to reject another likely push to introduce same-sex marriage legislation later in the year,” he said.
“Furthermore, it is insulting to Tasmanians to suggest that marriage dominates people’s voting preferences. A range of issues including the economy, health services and the environment influence a person’s vote,” he said.
Mr Brown said the fact remained that candidates supporting radical social reform were not elected.
“Saturday’s election saw Liberal Vanessa Goodwin re-elected in Pembroke, independent Jim Wilkinson returned to his seat in Nelson, and Liberal Leonie Hiscutt elected in Montgomery,” he said.
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Monday, 6th May 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) says it is disingenuous of Greens leader Nick McKim and Marriage Equality’s Rodney Croome to see the weekend’s upper house election results as showing majority support for same-sex marriage.
ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown says it’s presumptuous post election commentary for Mr McKim and Mr Croome to claim the public want to redefine marriage in the state after the weekend results because “a majority of voters across the three electorates voted in support of marriage equality candidates”.
“It’s nothing but spin to turn the weekend’s results, which were a disastrous result for same-sex marriage advocates because the three candidates elected don’t support same-sex marriage, into a ‘positive news story’,” he said.
“The facts are self-evident: candidates with a more conservative stance on social issues won comfortably in all three electorates. This is a clear message from the community to the upper house to reject another likely push to introduce same-sex marriage legislation later in the year,” he said.
“Furthermore, it is insulting to Tasmanians to suggest that marriage dominates people’s voting preferences. A range of issues including the economy, health services and the environment influence a person’s vote,” he said.
Mr Brown said the fact remained that candidates supporting radical social reform were not elected.
“Saturday’s election saw Liberal Vanessa Goodwin re-elected in Pembroke, independent Jim Wilkinson returned to his seat in Nelson, and Liberal Leonie Hiscutt elected in Montgomery,” he said.
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MR: Tas Health Minister ignores community concerns about abortion bill
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 11th April 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) said the Health Minister has ignored the Tasmanian community’s concerns about the abortion bill despite making changes to her private member’s bill.
ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown said Ms O’Byrne’s moves to soften the Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill is a partial but inadequate response to community concern about the extreme nature of her abortion bill.
“Sadly the submission process has been a sham from the start,” Mr Brown said.
Despite a very short consultation period 2000 submissions were received.
“Despite Ms O’Byrne admitting 87% of respondents were opposed to abortion she still wants to allow abortion on demand,” Mr Brown said.
“How can 2,000 submissions be reviewed in less than a week?
“This is just another sign of a politician determined to force a radical social agenda onto people without genuine consultation.”
Mr Brown said it was also inappropriate for a private member’s bill to be promoted on a government department website.
“It is the duty of legislators to protect its most vulnerable citizens, to protect freedom of conscience and speech, and to provide help for those women in making a truly informed decision about the welfare of their children,” Mr Brown said.
“This is a genuine ethical issue of life and death that can’t be rushed through and all the more so with so much public interest in it,” he said.
Thursday, 11th April 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) said the Health Minister has ignored the Tasmanian community’s concerns about the abortion bill despite making changes to her private member’s bill.
ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown said Ms O’Byrne’s moves to soften the Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill is a partial but inadequate response to community concern about the extreme nature of her abortion bill.
“Sadly the submission process has been a sham from the start,” Mr Brown said.
Despite a very short consultation period 2000 submissions were received.
“Despite Ms O’Byrne admitting 87% of respondents were opposed to abortion she still wants to allow abortion on demand,” Mr Brown said.
“How can 2,000 submissions be reviewed in less than a week?
“This is just another sign of a politician determined to force a radical social agenda onto people without genuine consultation.”
Mr Brown said it was also inappropriate for a private member’s bill to be promoted on a government department website.
“It is the duty of legislators to protect its most vulnerable citizens, to protect freedom of conscience and speech, and to provide help for those women in making a truly informed decision about the welfare of their children,” Mr Brown said.
“This is a genuine ethical issue of life and death that can’t be rushed through and all the more so with so much public interest in it,” he said.
MR: Proposed adoption laws lacks impetus for change
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 8th April 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is urging the Tasmanian Government to reject changes to adoption laws expected to be debated this week in parliament that would deny children the right to be raised by a mother and father.
ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown said not only does it ignore the rights of the child but there is no need for the laws to change with very few children surrendered for adoption.
The proposed changes to the Adoption Act would allow unmarried and same-sex couples to adopt children given up by their biological parents.
Mr Brown said it is the duty of governments to always act in the best interests of children.
“All things being equal, children have the right to both a mother and a father. We know that through tragedy or desertion this is not always possible but adoption is one area where governments can restore this important value for the benefit of children,” Mr Brown said.
“There is no logical reason to suggest that changing the current Adoption Act is needed when the needs of children have not changed and when there are so few adoptions anyway. Adoption is about the needs of these children, not the desires of adults.
“Statistics show that in 2011, there were only two Australian children surrendered for ‘unknown’ adoptions and only four intercountry adoptions in the same period,” he said.
“Given there is no demand for more parents for adopted children – why is this being pushed ahead? What’s the real agenda here?” Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown said a change to adoption legislation would be nonsensical, as it would deny the importance of motherhood and fatherhood.
“Fathers and mothers parent differently from one another, and providing that diversity in a child’s upbringing is important for their development,” he said.
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Monday 8th April 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is urging the Tasmanian Government to reject changes to adoption laws expected to be debated this week in parliament that would deny children the right to be raised by a mother and father.
ACL’s Tasmanian Director Mark Brown said not only does it ignore the rights of the child but there is no need for the laws to change with very few children surrendered for adoption.
The proposed changes to the Adoption Act would allow unmarried and same-sex couples to adopt children given up by their biological parents.
Mr Brown said it is the duty of governments to always act in the best interests of children.
“All things being equal, children have the right to both a mother and a father. We know that through tragedy or desertion this is not always possible but adoption is one area where governments can restore this important value for the benefit of children,” Mr Brown said.
“There is no logical reason to suggest that changing the current Adoption Act is needed when the needs of children have not changed and when there are so few adoptions anyway. Adoption is about the needs of these children, not the desires of adults.
“Statistics show that in 2011, there were only two Australian children surrendered for ‘unknown’ adoptions and only four intercountry adoptions in the same period,” he said.
“Given there is no demand for more parents for adopted children – why is this being pushed ahead? What’s the real agenda here?” Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown said a change to adoption legislation would be nonsensical, as it would deny the importance of motherhood and fatherhood.
“Fathers and mothers parent differently from one another, and providing that diversity in a child’s upbringing is important for their development,” he said.
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