Two alterations to Christian Values Checklist
 Since the release of the Australian Christian Values Checklist there have been a couple of policy announcements by Labor and Liberal that have led to the Australian Christian Values Institute issuing a Second Edition of the Christian Values Checklist.
We welcome the following two announcements and have posted the new editions of the Christian Values Checklist and Supporting Statements and One page Summary on our website - below and on our 'Election page'.
The changes relate to Labor giving money for more chaplains in schools and Liberal/Nationals giving a pre-marriage education voucher to couples getting married.
Read on for full details and the revised Christian Values Checklist and Supporting Statements.
Revised Checklists
The revised Christian Values Checklists, as published on 19 August 2010 are:
Second Edition Christian Values Checklist 19 August 2010 Colour HR
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Second Edition Christian Values Checklist 19 August 2010 Colour B & W
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Supporting statements - 2010 federal election Christian Values Checklist - Third ed -19 Aug 2010
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One page Summary of Supporting Statements for 2010 Election CVCL - Second edition 19 Aug 2010
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Details of changes:
Pre-marriage education
Pre-marriage education Question 5: "Provide free pre-marriage education for couples"
The Coalition has announced a policy to provide pre-marriage education - a $200 voucher would be made available to all couples who are getting married that can be used for pre-marriage education, parenting courses or counselling. The vouchers can be used for any approved service, not just government-run services. The announcement was made by Kevin Andrews, Shadow Minister for Families at the National Marriage Day Dinner.
See report at Christian Today.
The Liberals and Nationals now receive a '√' for this question.Â
Chaplaincy in schoolsÂ
Question 3: "Support guaranteed funding for the National Schools Chaplaincy Program".
Since the Christian Values Checklist was released, Labor has announced that they will extend the 'School Chaplaincy' program until 2014. They have also said they will give additional funds to provide for 1,000 extra chaplains. However, Labor's media release notes that the program will still be reviewed during 2011 and a Discussion Paper on the program will be released. They also talk about "additional chaplaincy and pastoral care support" and "Chaplains and pastoral care workers", so it is unclear whether there is a firm commitment to just faith-based chaplains rather than 'pastoral care'. Given previous Labor ministers' comments about secularising the program, this could still be an issue. This program could also be threatend by any political agreement between Labor and the Greens following the election, because the Greens are totally opposed to the program. Read Labor's Media Release about chaplaincy: click here.
Labor now receives a '√?' for this question. Â
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