Australia’s aid to poor people overseas should be quarantined from further cuts in this year’s budget, according to the Australian Christian Lobby.

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The Australian Christian Lobby has urged the Australian Communications and Media Authority to reject proposed changes to free-to-air television which include abolishing G timeslots, abolishing the AV rating and bringing forward M and MA timeslots.

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The Australian Christian Lobby today urged caution concerning calls for Australian trials into mitochondrial replacement, or three-parent babies.

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A Queensland parliamentary committee has opened the door for a proper examination of successful prostitution policy being adopted by countries across the globe.

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John Beckett is the National Director for Micah Challenge Australia. ACL’s Katherine Spackman caught up with him at Parliament House as hundreds of young Christians from across Australia were there to meet politicians and advocate for the global poor. Particularly they were there to shine a light on global tax dodging.

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The Internet provides lots of opportunities to speak up and be heard. Social media services like Facebook and Twitter, news websites and blogs are just some places where Christians can have a say.



Many news websites allow readers to post comments at the bottom of a news story.



The media often use these comments to measure public sentiment. They are an important tool for shaping public opinion and the views of opinion makers in the media.



Many media outlets, however, moderate the comments submitted to them online. This means that if a comment does not comply with its guidelines, it is not published.



This can be because the comment attacks someone personally, or it strays from the topic at hand.



So, how can you ensure that your comments are published in news articles?



A few general rules apply:

• Don’t post material that incites hatred or violence



• Don’t attack someone personally; make the comment about the issue/s at hand



• Keep comments relevant



• Avoid ‘SHOUTING’ i.e. don’t write all in CAPS

The Sydney Morning Herald has published some relevant articles that go into detail about commenting on news sites. Use these as guidelines for posting comments on other media outlets too, including blogs and Facebook:

• Comments on Fairfax articles and blogs 



• Why I reject your comments

Consider some of the following options to help you make the most of the opportunity to have your voice heard about issues important to Christians today:

• ACL’s Pick of the Day’s news. ACL compiles a daily media monitoring service of stories of interest to the Christian constituency, including on marriage, family, human rights and religious freedom. Use this list to find stories you may wish to comment on. Check the ACL website each morning to access the list.



• Spread the word. Encourage your Facebook friends and Twitter followers to comment on blogs and news sites.



• Post often. Most websites allow you to post multiple comments. Each time you visit a news story, try to leave more than one comment. Check back throughout the day and keep participating in the discussion.



• Create an account. Some websites will only let you comment if you first create an account with a password. To save time, set up an account in advance so you’re ready to participate in the discussion.

 



 

In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on issues such as video games classification, and proposed new anti-discrimination legislation. See below for links to mentions in the media.



On video games classification:

• Meld Magazine - Adult-rated games now legally available in Australia

On anti-discrimination legislation:

• The Age & Sydney Morning Herald - Review 'missed opportunity' to separate church and state



• ABC News (The World Today), Interview with Jim Wallace - Christian leader says discrimination exemptions will stay

In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on issues such as not-for-profit (NFP) tax reform, euthanasia, and a proposed new anti-discrimination legislation. See below for links to mentions in the media.



On anti-discrimination legislation:

• ACL's Managing Director Jim Wallace was interviewed by The Project on Wednesday 16th January on this issue. Watch the video here.



• The Sydney Morning Herald - Religious groups free to discriminate



• Brisbane Times & The Age - Anti-gay rights to stay (ACL rejects notion of discriminating against "sinners" as laid out in this article)



• The Australian - Christian lobby can't set policy: Greens



• The Daily Telegraph - Sinner story a 'beat up': Christian lobby



• Sky News Australia - Sinner story a 'beat up': lobby group



• The Herald Sun - Christian lobby can't set policy: Greens



• ABC Online & Yahoo!7 News - Christian lobby rejects push to remove religious exemptions

On NFP reform:

• The International News Magazine - ACL says NFP reform must account for diverse nature of sector



• The Australian - Support grows for tax reform in not-for-profits



• Christian Today - Christian lobby says NFP reform must account for diverse nature of sector



• The International News Magazine - ACL misrepresented in NFP reform article

MEDIA RELEASE



For release: Thursday, January 10, 2013



The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today concurred with concerns raised by the media companies over the draft Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill put forward by Attorney General Nicola Roxon, concerns also reflected in its submission.



Managing Director of the ACL, Mr Jim Wallace, said that “while the move to consolidate, clarify, and simplify five different commonwealth laws is welcome, the draft Bill goes well beyond consolidation and would increase the reach of current laws, further impinging on freedom of religion and freedom of speech.”



“The joint submission by the media companies has rightly pointed out the increasing reach of this Bill to include conduct that offends or insults,” said Mr Wallace. “In addition to this, unlawful discrimination is defined subjectively as ‘unfavourable treatment’, with the onus of proof on the one who has supposedly offended or insulted while there is no definition of what constitutes “ harassment”, something the draft looks to target.”



“The exposure draft creates too many vulnerabilities for people of faith and faith-based institutions and will need radical redrafting,” said Mr Wallace.



 

As we wrap up this political year we are probably at best deflated by the manner in which politics has been conducted in 2012 and at worst, and perhaps more likely, infuriated and disappointed.  The savage attacks on individuals on both sides of the parliament and issues in the public domain seems to have reached a new level inflamed by the anonymity of social media.



Keynote speaker at this year’s ACL National Conference Professor Greg Craven gave words to this widely held frustration as few could in his recent article in The Australian, and I think we would all agree with his concluding remark “I just want this to stop.”