May 2009 News Archive

1. Tasmania - Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal dismisses complaint by homosexual against the Red Cross
The case was brought by Michael Cain because the Red Cross wouldn't let him donate blood because he said he had had sex with a male in the previous 12 months.
Click here for media report.
Click here for the Tribunal decision.

2. Victoria - Court of Appeal calls for tougher sentencing of child sex offenders
HS VOTE LINE - Should judges impose maximum jail sentences on child sex offenders?
In two recent cases the Victorian Court of Appeals INCREASED the sentences given...
Media report - click here.

3. California - Supreme Court's upheld Proposition 8
- confirming, for the time being anyway, that the term 'marriage' can only relate to heterosexual relationships.
Protests by homosexual groups immediately erupted across California and in other parts of the US following Tuesday's announcement.

4. Australia - National Day of Thanksgiving - Tomorrow 30 May 2009
Click here for our website page on the NDOT.
Click here for the National Day of Thanksgiving website - there are lists of events being held around Australia.

28 May 2009 - What will 'Carbon Taxes' COST YOU?
The federal government's Emissions Trading Scheme and 'Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme' will impose huge taxes on every Australian family.
Professor Bob Carter has estimated the cost would be $3,054 per family per year (at a rate of $30/t of carbon dioxide).

The indirect costs would more than double that cost!
Click here for our report and links.

26 May 2009 - Greens propose euthanasia law in Tasmania
Tasmanian Greens Leader Nick McKim has tabled a Private Members' Bill called Dying With Dignity Bill 2009.
The Bill "seeks to confirm the right of those suffering from a terminal illness and experiencing intolerable pain to request assistance from a medically qualified person to end voluntarily their lives in a humane and dignified manner."

ACTION:
We encourage all Tasmanians to contact their MPs and ask them to oppose the legalisation of euthanasia as proposed by the Greens.
Click here for Tasmanian MP contact details.

25 May 2009 - George Pell criticises 'climate catastrophe' bandwagon
At least ONE church leader is opposing the 'climate change/global warming' juggernaut.
In a new article Cardinal George Pell highlights several factors: that the government is becoming more cautious, the impact of Ian Plimer's book on global warming and various statistics about temperature and climate.
Click here to read his article.

22 May 2009 - Legalising prostitution
The NSW government legalised prostitution - but illegal brothels have flourished.
Eighteen months ago the government introduced legislation to make it easier for local councils to close down illegal brothels.
However a report in the Daily Telegraph reveals that illegal brothels are 'exploding' all across Sydney - the report claims that "'tough' new laws have failed to prevent unprotected sex, slavery and corruption."

It is estimated that ILLEGAL brothels and escort services outnumber legal ones by a ratio of FOUR to ONE!

This is no surprise. Legalise brothels and people think prostitution is OK. The police think that brothels are normal and don't investigate 'illegal' ones - they say 'how do they know which are which?'
After the legalisation of prostitution in Victoria, with a previous estimated 50 illegal brothels - it went to 100 legal, around 1500 single sex workers and an estimated 400 illegal brothels!

An irony - who is the group complaining about the illegal brothels? The Adult Business Association - they represent the owners of LEGAL services - they don't like the competition!

21 May 2009 - Diversity Week - Your tax dollars at work!
The University of Queensland is holding Diversity Week next week - 25-29 May.
They want everyone to "walk in others' shoes" - whether that is race, religion, culture of sexuality/gender.
Staff and students are invited to apply for grants to put on activities and events...

And the highlight of the week is said to the the Vice-Chancellor's Equity and Diversity Awards - with prizes of $10,000 and $5,000.

With Phillip Adams facilitating a panel and Carmen Lawrence (former WA Premier and federal Health Minister) speaking, it is sure to highlight a wide range of 'diversity'. Click here for Events list.
Is this what our tax dollars (or university dollars for that matter) should be used for?

21 May 2009 - UK freedom of speech clause at risk
Last year the UK government passed a law to make "inciting hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation" an offence. The clause was included in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (Section 74, page 66).

Lord Waddington successfully inserted a free speech clause into that Act to ensure that criticism of homosexuality would not be considered as an 'offence' under the Act. ( Act - Schedule 16, No 4, P 237)
NOW he UK government is moving to REPEAL the free speech clause!
Christian Concern for our Nation has prepared a detailed Information and Action Pack on this proposal by the UK government.

Moral of the story - you can't rely on exemptions - they can always be REMOVED!

20 May 2009 - Dinosaur soft tissue and protein found
Have you heard that scientists have found soft tissue and protein in dinosaur skeletons?
If these creatures really did die out 80 million (or 60 million or whatever they claim) would they really still have soft tissue in their skeletons?
The answer? NO!

Creation Ministries report on the latest discovery...
"Mary Schweitzer announces even stronger evidence for amazingly preserved flexible blood vessel and cell structures from dinosaurs. This time they are from the bones of a plant-eating dinosaur (hadrosaur / duck-billed dino) rather than a T. rex. And this time she performed the tests the critics demanded to prove this beyond reasonable doubt. Objective chemical measurements show that proteins should not last anywhere near the claimed 80 million years even if frozen. So this discovery should by rights be the end of the billions-of-years paradigm."
See the CMI article Dinosaur soft tissue and protein-even more confirmation!

20 May 2009 - Did you miss IDAHO Day?
You might have missed IDAHO Day but homosexual lobby groups and communities around the world did their best to let everyone know...

So what is IDAHO, you ask...
It stands for the 'International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia' or IDAHO for short. This year they added 'transphobia' and highlighted that particular issue.
They claim that 300 organisations in 75 countries signed their petition to 'reject transphobia and respect gender identity'.
Click here for the IDAHO website.

Yes, we're often accused of 'homophobia'. We ask 'What does that mean by that?' and invariably the response is 'You hate homosexuals'. We reject that accusation and we also refuse to own the term 'homophobia', however it is defined.

19 May 2009 - The government's legislation for the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
On 4 May the Rudd government announced changes to their proposed carbon trading scheme. On 14 May they introduced the new legislation into the federal parliament.
In particular they extended the start date to 2011 (from 2010) - and changed the compensation rates to industry. They left the base limit at 5% reduction on 2000 carbon dioxide levels but increased the upper amount to 25% (from 15%) if other nations signed up to an agreement!

Now they are trying to get other parties in the Senate to support the scheme...
Click here for our page explaining the scheme and giving links to legislation, documents, media commentary etc.

15 May 2009 - Review of exceptions in Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act
The Victorian Parliament's Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC) is currently reviewing the exceptions contained in the state's Equal Opportunity Act to see if they comply with the Victorian Charter of Rights and Responsibilities - they want to hear from YOU!

In MAY 2009 SARC released an OPTIONS PAPER.
They are asking for submissions by July 10, 2009.
Click here for our campaign page.

11 May 2009 - Gender surgery and assessment
An article in today's Australian highlights the treatment of 'gender identity dysphoria'.
A woman who was treated by Monash Gender Dysphoria Clinic has alleged that the Director of the Clinic, Gertrude Kennedy, wrongly diagnosed her as a transsexual - this led to her having a double mastectomy and talking hormones. She later reverted to being a woman and is now the mother of three children. She is seeking to have Dr Kennedy censured by the Victoria's medical board. The Board has written to Dr Kennedy's lawyers, telling her they will conduct an informal hearing.

The article notes that the Clinic is closed for three months to assess its' operation since several reviews have found the Clinic is failing to operate adequately.

11 May 2009 - Obama's first 100 days - 'anti-life' agenda
Barack Obama has completed his first 100 days as President of the USA.
During that time he has implemented many 'anti-life' policies - from approving overseas aid funding for abortions and allowing federal funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research.
Fr. Alphonse de Valk, Editor, Catholic Insight has prepared a detailed assessment of Barack Obama's policies, decisions and appointments in his first 100 days as President.
Click here to read the article on Lifesite.

8 May 2009 - Vic EO Act exceptions review - Options Paper
The Victorian Parliament's Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee has released an Options Paper on the exceptions in the Equal Opportunity Act.
The Committee is supposed to be looking at the exceptions to see if they fit with Victoria's 'Charter of Rights and Responsibilities'.
Regarding religious exceptions (Sections 75-77) the paper outlines possible options but generally favours a restriction of all the exceptions.
Submissions are being received and close 10 July 2009.
Click here for the Options Paper.

8 May 2009 - Abortion campaigns in Qld and NSW
Campaigns to decriminalise [legalise] abortion are underway in Queensland and NSW.
In Queensland, lobby group Children by Choice are running a campaign and have put out a media release calling for the government to decriminalise abortion.

In NSW the Greens are running a campaign to pressure the Labor government to introduce legislation to decriminalise abortion. NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says if the government doesn't act then the Greens will introduce a private member's bill.
Click here to see their campaign pages.

7 May 2009 - 'Alex' given permission to remove breasts
When 'Alex' was 13 the Family Court gave approval for her to take hormones to stop puberty so she could become a boy (see link to court decision here ).

Now the girl is 17 - and the Family Court has approved her having her breasts removed to continue the process of gender change (decision not available yet).
As Andrew Bolt points out - this is a tragedy. Looking at the girl's family background one can see the situation that has led to this outcome.

Court lets girl, 17, remove breasts
The Age - May 3, 2009
"THE Family Court has allowed a 17-year-old girl to have her breasts removed so she can be more like a boy. The teenager, code-named "Alex", ... "

Boy, what a tragic farce
Andrew Bolt - Melbourne Herald Sun - May 5, 2009
"THE tragedy is complete. The Family Court has treated the troubled mind of a 17-year-old girl by letting her cut off her breasts. Chief Justice Diana Bryant ..."

Family Court gives 17-year-old permission for breast removal
ABC Online - May 4, 2009
"MARK COLVIN: The Family Court of Australia has given permission to a 17-year-old girl to have both her breasts surgically removed so she can become more ..."

6 May 2009 - Rudd government postpones carbon scheme
The Rudd government has announced that it will delay the introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme associated with the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme for one year, to 2011; reduce the cost of carbon (dioxide) to $10 a tonne for the first year (down from $25) and alter the emission targets. The minimum target remains at 5% reduction from 2000 levels by 2020 but the rate 'if the world agrees' rises from 15% to 25%.

In December last year, Mr Rudd said we could not wait to implement the scheme. Now it seems he has changed his mind.... perhaps to try and persuade the Senate to pass the legislation...

He blames the global financial crisis - however when he launched the scheme in December 2008, he noted there were already nations in recession but we could not wait to implement such a scheme.
The government should use the additional time to re-assess the scheme - the impact and the actual science...

Documents:
Rudd government media release on the revised scheme:
NEW MEASURES FOR THE CARBON POLLUTION REDUCTION SCHEME

From December 2008
Introduction of a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
Speech - Kevin Rudd - 15 December 2008
"The case for action is clear. The cost of inaction is equally clear. ..."

PRESS Club Speech launching the CPRS - 15 December 2008
"I say we can wait no more. The time has come for action."

Media report:
Rudd delays emissions trading
The Age, May 4, 2009
"The introduction of the Federal Government's emissions trading scheme (ETS) has been delayed by one year to mid-2011.

Commentary articles on the new scheme:
Overview of the changes...
Emissions retreat just so Napoleon
Alan Moran | May 06, 2009 Article from: The Australian

Breathing space for more cost-efficient ETS
The Australian, Michael Stutchbury, Economics editor | May 07, 2009

Delaying ETS is purely cynical
Herald Sun, Terry McCrann - May 05, 2009.

Global warning fraud squad
Andrew Bolt - Herald Sun - May 06, 2009.