NSW parliament passes surrogacy law
Last night the NSW Government’s Surrogacy Bill 2010 was passed by the NSW Legislative Assembly.
While the often strong desire of people to have children is fully understandable, ACL does not support surrogacy because of concerns for the welfare of children born through surrogacy arrangements and also for the mental and physical health of birth mothers.
Whilst, it is extraordinary to think that surrogacy has been largely unregulated in NSW for such a long period of time, the Surrogacy Bill does not go far enough to protect the rights of children to be raised by a mother and a father.
If the Government is to regulate surrogacy then we urge them to ensure that children have the benefit of the love and role models of both a mother and a father – something we believe there is broad community support for.
While the often strong desire of people to have children is fully understandable, ACL does not support surrogacy because of concerns for the welfare of children born through surrogacy arrangements and also for the mental and physical health of birth mothers.
Whilst, it is extraordinary to think that surrogacy has been largely unregulated in NSW for such a long period of time, the Surrogacy Bill does not go far enough to protect the rights of children to be raised by a mother and a father.
If the Government is to regulate surrogacy then we urge them to ensure that children have the benefit of the love and role models of both a mother and a father – something we believe there is broad community support for.
Time for NSW to kick its poker machine addiction
MEDIA RELEASE
For release: October 15, 2010
Time for NSW to kick its poker machine addiction
The Australian Christian Lobby today urged the NSW Premier and Leader of the Opposition to stop playing politics on gambling policy.
ACL’s NSW Director David Hutt, said problem gambling was a serious issue for Australia and called on the Government and Opposition to take a more constructive approach to tackling problem gambling.
“What we have seen today from the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition has been a completely unedifying display,” Mr Hutt said. “NSW needs a premier who will show leadership in tackling problem gambling.
“The ‘he said/she said’ debate of the last 24 hours has missed the mark completely. Poker machines are a serious problem for NSW.
“The Productivity Commission report into gambling estimated the social cost of problem gambling to Australia as being as high as $4.7 billion a year. This is unacceptably high.
“Both the Federal and Tasmanian Governments are looking at ways of reducing the burden poker machines place on society. There is no reason why NSW can’t lead the way on tackling problem gambling.
“It’s time for Labor and the Liberals to check into rehab and wean themselves off their poker machine addiction.”
Media Contact: David Hutt 0409 678 484
For release: October 15, 2010
Time for NSW to kick its poker machine addiction
The Australian Christian Lobby today urged the NSW Premier and Leader of the Opposition to stop playing politics on gambling policy.
ACL’s NSW Director David Hutt, said problem gambling was a serious issue for Australia and called on the Government and Opposition to take a more constructive approach to tackling problem gambling.
“What we have seen today from the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition has been a completely unedifying display,” Mr Hutt said. “NSW needs a premier who will show leadership in tackling problem gambling.
“The ‘he said/she said’ debate of the last 24 hours has missed the mark completely. Poker machines are a serious problem for NSW.
“The Productivity Commission report into gambling estimated the social cost of problem gambling to Australia as being as high as $4.7 billion a year. This is unacceptably high.
“Both the Federal and Tasmanian Governments are looking at ways of reducing the burden poker machines place on society. There is no reason why NSW can’t lead the way on tackling problem gambling.
“It’s time for Labor and the Liberals to check into rehab and wean themselves off their poker machine addiction.”
Media Contact: David Hutt 0409 678 484
ACL congratulates NSW Govt for declaring Easter Sunday a public holiday
MEDIA RELEASE
For release October 14, 2010
ACL congratulates NSW Govt for declaring Easter Sunday a public holiday
The Australian Christian Lobby has today congratulated Premier Kristina Keneally for declaring Easter Sunday a public holiday from 2011.
ACL NSW Director, David Hutt said it was appropriate for the government to recognise the importance of Easter Sunday. “This is a sensible decision that I know will be welcomed by many people,” Mr Hutt said.
“Kristina Keneally is to be congratulated for recognising the importance of Easter Sunday and guaranteeing that workers will not be required to work on Easter Sunday.
“Easter Sunday is the most significant day of the Christian calendar. While the Good Friday public holiday recognises Christ’s passion and suffering, it is the Sunday resurrection that is the focal point of Easter.
Media Contact: David Hutt 0409 678 484
For release October 14, 2010
ACL congratulates NSW Govt for declaring Easter Sunday a public holiday
The Australian Christian Lobby has today congratulated Premier Kristina Keneally for declaring Easter Sunday a public holiday from 2011.
ACL NSW Director, David Hutt said it was appropriate for the government to recognise the importance of Easter Sunday. “This is a sensible decision that I know will be welcomed by many people,” Mr Hutt said.
“Kristina Keneally is to be congratulated for recognising the importance of Easter Sunday and guaranteeing that workers will not be required to work on Easter Sunday.
“Easter Sunday is the most significant day of the Christian calendar. While the Good Friday public holiday recognises Christ’s passion and suffering, it is the Sunday resurrection that is the focal point of Easter.
Media Contact: David Hutt 0409 678 484
NSW MPs called on to reject homosexual stranger adoption
With debate on a same-sex adoption bill due to begin in the NSW Parliament this afternoon, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has called on NSW MPs to act in the best interests of children and vote against the legislation.
ACL NSW Director David Hutt said that efforts are being made to portray the legislation as being entirely about ‘known adoptions’ when in actual fact the bill clearly allows for ‘stranger adoptions’ where the same-sex couple has no prior relationship with the child.
“Given the large numbers of heterosexual parents waiting years to adopt a child, there is no justification for changing the law to place adopted children in the homes of same-sex couples they don’t even know,” Mr Hutt said.
“We urge Lower House politicians to make a true conscience vote on the bill – not based on party loyalties – and to carefully consider whether denying a child in ‘stranger’ adoption the benefit of having both a mother and a father is really putting that child’s best interests first.
“The debate about same-sex adoption is not a gay rights issue. This is about children’s rights – specifically the right of an adopted child to be placed in a home with both a mother and a father,” Mr Hutt said.
“Section 8 of the Adoption Act 2000 clearly states that no adult has the right to adopt a child. Parliamentarians need to get beyond attempts by the gay lobby to frame this as a rights issue and start focussing on what this will mean for children in the future.
“Sadly, adopted children can often face emotional struggles. If passed, this bill will allow children to be adopted out to two mums or two dads and make them miss out on the love and role modelling that both a mum and a dad can provide.”
Mr Hutt said that in the case of same-sex couples wanting to adopt children already living with them, most of their concerns about providing parental care can be effectively dealt with through a parenting order made by the Family Court. Parenting orders are a mechanism that recognises the relationship between a child and an adult and give the adult parental responsibility for the child.
Media Contact: Glynis Quinlan 0408 875 979
ACL NSW Director David Hutt said that efforts are being made to portray the legislation as being entirely about ‘known adoptions’ when in actual fact the bill clearly allows for ‘stranger adoptions’ where the same-sex couple has no prior relationship with the child.
“Given the large numbers of heterosexual parents waiting years to adopt a child, there is no justification for changing the law to place adopted children in the homes of same-sex couples they don’t even know,” Mr Hutt said.
“We urge Lower House politicians to make a true conscience vote on the bill – not based on party loyalties – and to carefully consider whether denying a child in ‘stranger’ adoption the benefit of having both a mother and a father is really putting that child’s best interests first.
“The debate about same-sex adoption is not a gay rights issue. This is about children’s rights – specifically the right of an adopted child to be placed in a home with both a mother and a father,” Mr Hutt said.
“Section 8 of the Adoption Act 2000 clearly states that no adult has the right to adopt a child. Parliamentarians need to get beyond attempts by the gay lobby to frame this as a rights issue and start focussing on what this will mean for children in the future.
“Sadly, adopted children can often face emotional struggles. If passed, this bill will allow children to be adopted out to two mums or two dads and make them miss out on the love and role modelling that both a mum and a dad can provide.”
Mr Hutt said that in the case of same-sex couples wanting to adopt children already living with them, most of their concerns about providing parental care can be effectively dealt with through a parenting order made by the Family Court. Parenting orders are a mechanism that recognises the relationship between a child and an adult and give the adult parental responsibility for the child.
Media Contact: Glynis Quinlan 0408 875 979
Greens move to legalise sale of X18+ porn in NSW
David Hutt, 29 April 2010
The NSW Greens have given notice that they will be moving to lift the ban on selling X18+ pornography in NSW. Greens MLC and Federal Senate candidate for NSW, Lee Rhiannon (pictured) has flagged her intention to push to have the ban lifted when Parliament sits next month.
ACL is strongly opposed to any attempt to lift the current ban. ACL today cautioned against lifting the ban and said the Little Children Are Sacred report into child abuse in the Northern Territory demonstrated why the ban was needed.
NSW doesn’t need this destructive material. We have already seen the sort of devastation hardcore porn has wrought on communities in the Northern Territory. Its ability to destroy children’s lives was one of the key reasons for the Australian Government’s intervention in the Northern Territory.
When launching the Intervention, the previous Federal Government reasoned that, “The Little Children are Sacred report revealed that the availability of pornography in Indigenous communities is a factor that contributes to child sexual abuse in those communities, being used to groom children for sex, and normalising inappropriate sexualised and violent behaviour in children”.
The report into child abuse in the Northern Territory demonstrated a clear link between the availability of hardcore pornography and child abuse. It is discriminatory to suggest that the children and families of NSW are somehow immune from the consequences of easily-available porn.
NSW Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos recently told Parliament that any move to lift the ban contravened the NSW Greens’ policy on women. “I have read the Greens policy on women, which is clearly against pornography that ‘discriminates against women by presenting them as suitable objects for violent or sexual exploitation’.” Mr Hatzistergos suggested that Ms Rhiannon should reacquaint herself with the NSW Greens’ policy on women.
Mr Hatzistergos said selling hardcore pornography in NSW was illegal because “the community and their representatives want to minimise the opportunity for it to be distributed in this State.”
The NSW Greens have given notice that they will be moving to lift the ban on selling X18+ pornography in NSW. Greens MLC and Federal Senate candidate for NSW, Lee Rhiannon (pictured) has flagged her intention to push to have the ban lifted when Parliament sits next month.
ACL is strongly opposed to any attempt to lift the current ban. ACL today cautioned against lifting the ban and said the Little Children Are Sacred report into child abuse in the Northern Territory demonstrated why the ban was needed.
NSW doesn’t need this destructive material. We have already seen the sort of devastation hardcore porn has wrought on communities in the Northern Territory. Its ability to destroy children’s lives was one of the key reasons for the Australian Government’s intervention in the Northern Territory.
When launching the Intervention, the previous Federal Government reasoned that, “The Little Children are Sacred report revealed that the availability of pornography in Indigenous communities is a factor that contributes to child sexual abuse in those communities, being used to groom children for sex, and normalising inappropriate sexualised and violent behaviour in children”.
The report into child abuse in the Northern Territory demonstrated a clear link between the availability of hardcore pornography and child abuse. It is discriminatory to suggest that the children and families of NSW are somehow immune from the consequences of easily-available porn.
NSW Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos recently told Parliament that any move to lift the ban contravened the NSW Greens’ policy on women. “I have read the Greens policy on women, which is clearly against pornography that ‘discriminates against women by presenting them as suitable objects for violent or sexual exploitation’.” Mr Hatzistergos suggested that Ms Rhiannon should reacquaint herself with the NSW Greens’ policy on women.
Mr Hatzistergos said selling hardcore pornography in NSW was illegal because “the community and their representatives want to minimise the opportunity for it to be distributed in this State.”
NSW Govt urged to clarify conflicting comments about school Scripture
For release: April 14, 2010
The Australian Christian Lobby today called on the NSW Government to urgently clarify conflicting comments from the St James Ethics Centre as to whether ethics class will be offered in competition with Scripture in schools.
A February 8 letter from the Centre's Teresa Russell to parents and carers of year five and six students at a school participating in the NSW Government's up-coming ethics class trial contradicts comments made by the Centre's head, Dr Simon Longstaff, in the media this week.
Despite claims from Dr Longstaff that it was 'misleading' to suggest the new ethics classes would weaken Scripture classes, Ms Russell's letter states: “We now invite participation from Years 5 and 6 students, regardless of whether they currently 'opt out' of Scripture/SRE or not”. (Please see the letter attached).
However, Dr Longstaff told the ABC's PM program last night that the proposed new ethics class "should only be for people who have opted out of scripture".
(http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2871823.htm)
Furthermore, the letter contradicts Dr Longstaff's comments on The National Times blog this week that “the pool of potential participants will be limited to those who would otherwise be spending time 'twiddling their thumbs'.” (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/you-cant-teach-ethics-without-referring-to-christianity-20100409-rxai.html?comments=210#comments)
Mr Longstaff told today's Sydney Morning Herald that it was misleading to suggest that there was any desire or intention to weaken religion classes. (http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/bishop-enters-battle-against-secular-ethics-classes-20100413-s7pp.html)
ACL's NSW Director David Hutt said the NSW Government needed to clarify the conflicting statements coming from the St James Ethics centre so parents could be assured that the Government's intent is not to weaken Scripture classes.
“If the Government sees a need for additional ethical content in the curriculum we would welcome that however this syllabus should be available to all students as part of General Religious Education (GRE) and not create the false dichotomy that there might be a choice between Scripture and ethics,” Mr Hutt said.
Media Contact: Lyle Shelton 0448 602 878.
The Australian Christian Lobby today called on the NSW Government to urgently clarify conflicting comments from the St James Ethics Centre as to whether ethics class will be offered in competition with Scripture in schools.
A February 8 letter from the Centre's Teresa Russell to parents and carers of year five and six students at a school participating in the NSW Government's up-coming ethics class trial contradicts comments made by the Centre's head, Dr Simon Longstaff, in the media this week.
Despite claims from Dr Longstaff that it was 'misleading' to suggest the new ethics classes would weaken Scripture classes, Ms Russell's letter states: “We now invite participation from Years 5 and 6 students, regardless of whether they currently 'opt out' of Scripture/SRE or not”. (Please see the letter attached).
However, Dr Longstaff told the ABC's PM program last night that the proposed new ethics class "should only be for people who have opted out of scripture".
(http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2871823.htm)
Furthermore, the letter contradicts Dr Longstaff's comments on The National Times blog this week that “the pool of potential participants will be limited to those who would otherwise be spending time 'twiddling their thumbs'.” (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/you-cant-teach-ethics-without-referring-to-christianity-20100409-rxai.html?comments=210#comments)
Mr Longstaff told today's Sydney Morning Herald that it was misleading to suggest that there was any desire or intention to weaken religion classes. (http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/bishop-enters-battle-against-secular-ethics-classes-20100413-s7pp.html)
ACL's NSW Director David Hutt said the NSW Government needed to clarify the conflicting statements coming from the St James Ethics centre so parents could be assured that the Government's intent is not to weaken Scripture classes.
“If the Government sees a need for additional ethical content in the curriculum we would welcome that however this syllabus should be available to all students as part of General Religious Education (GRE) and not create the false dichotomy that there might be a choice between Scripture and ethics,” Mr Hutt said.
Media Contact: Lyle Shelton 0448 602 878.