Rhys Vallance is the Western Australian director of the Australian Christian Lobby. He spoke to the ACL's Katherine Spackman about the WA Make it Count event last week where the Premier Colin Barnett and Opposition Leader Mark McGowan addressed Christians. Western Australian go to the polls on Saturday, 9th March.

The Australian Christian Lobby's Make it Count event - held in WA last Tuesday evening - was a chance for the WA Premier and the Opposition Leader to address issues of major concern for Christians in the lead up to the election on the 9th of March.



Some of the issues raised included: suicide and mental health; chaplaincy in schools; abortion; prostitution reform; marriage; euthanasia; and outdoor advertising.



For those of you who were unable to attend, videos of the WA Make it Count election event are available to watch below.

MEDIA RELEASE



For release: Wednesday, 27th February 2013



WA Opposition Leader Mark McGowan has told an 800 strong forum of Christian voters that if elected premier he will make outdoor advertising G Rated as a child protection measure.



ACL State Director Rhys Vallance, who organised last night’s Make it Count leaders’ forum with Premier Colin Barnett and Mr McGowan, welcomed the policy commitment.



“It was great to see both leaders acknowledge the problem of inappropriate outdoor advertising and to hear Mr McGowan’s specific commitment,” Mr Vallance said.



Christian leaders from a range of denominations put questions to the leaders.



Mr Barnett reiterated his opposition to euthanasia saying he did not support “a legal structure for ending a life”.



Both leaders expressed their support for the continuation of school chaplaincy.



Both pledged to do more on indigenous disadvantage with the Premier saying this was “Australia’s greatest social problem”.



On the tragic issue of 14 babies between 1999 and 2010 reportedly being born alive and then left to die, both leaders said they were not aware of this.



Mr Vallance said this was the second time ACL had conducted a Make it Count leaders forum, following a similarly successful event at the  2008 election also attended by more than 800 people.



“By turning out again in such numbers the Christian constituency is demonstrating that it is active and engaged, keen to ensure they are well informed when it comes time to vote.”

The Western Australia Director, Rhys Vallance, letter to supporters in the state is now available online.



The vision of the Australian Christian Lobby is to see Christian principles and ethics accepted and influencing the way we are governed, do business and relate to each other as a community. 



The upcoming state election is an important opportunity to make sure Christians values can affect government. By now you should have received information about the ‘Make it Count’ leaders’ address from Premier Colin Barnett and Opposition Leader Mark McGowan on Tuesday, 26th February at Mount Pleasant Baptist Community College at 7.30pm. We hope you can make it. 



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Nick Overton is the Acting Chief of Staff at the Australian Christian Lobby. He spoke to the ACL's Katherine Spackman about the West Australian election on the 9th of March.

On the 9th of March 2013, Western Australians will head to the polls. In the lead up to the election, the ACL has organised a Make it Count event with the Premier and Opposition Leader of the major parties on Tuesday 26th February at Mount Pleasant Baptist Community College from 7.30 to 9pm. Head to www.wavotes.org.au for more details.



The website also has information about the Meet Your Candidate Forums, where you can get to know the candidates more and ask them questions, and parties response to a questionnaire.







WA Election from Australian Christian Lobby on Vimeo.