News Archive: April - May 2008

May 2008

27 May 2008 - Childhood innocence destroyed
Two recent incidents have highlighted the loss of innocence for our children. As a society it is our duty to protect them.
Photographic exhibition
The first relates to a 13 year old girl photographed naked for an exhibition inSydney by photographer Bill Henson. Apparently she consented and so did her parents. But do they have the RIGHT to consent?
Professor George Hempel says 'NO' and warns the girl may later sue because of abuse.
Some artists are protecting 'artistic freedom'.
Is it child pornography?
We believe it is. Police are considering laying such charges.
it is concerning that media outlets like The Age have re-printed a photo of the naked girl.
The real concern is that these are NOT the first photos of naked teenagers taken and exhibited by Henson. Photos taken in the 1980s of naked teen were removed by Albury Gallery and a touring exhibition called Strange Cargo exhibited photos with a number of teens all touching each other. Yet NO-ONE complained.
Sex change for 12 year old
The other relates to a Family Court decision where a judge has allowed a 12 year old girl to begin hormone treatment to 'stop puberty' with the eventual aim of being a 'boy' - going on to take male sex hormones (with another court ruling) and later have surgery (18).

More information on our 'Transsexualism page under 'Australian legal cases'.
Click here for more information - articles - Family Court decision etc.
This page has information on previous cases: Re Alex and Re Kevin.

21 May 2008 - Two victories against pornography today!
Two landmark legal decisions regarding pornography have been reported in today's newspapers... In both cases, Christians have actively opposed the promotion of sleaze.
Congratulations to those who acted on these matters.

'Viva Erotica' appeal dismissed by Federal Court
This is an ongoing battle run by an online company called Adultshop.com
The company produced a film which was rated X18+ by the OFLC because it contained actual sex scenes. The company objected - wanting it to be rated R18+. Several legal battles later and the full Bench of the Federal Court has just rejected their appeal!
This article from The Australian explains the situation.
Of particular interest is that, during the case, the Australian Family Association has been listed as an 'interested party'. Arguments were presented opposing Adultshop by Mr Damien Tudehope, Solicitor. Well done!
Porn store loses film sex challenge
The Australian, 21 May 2008.

Kittens car wash in Bentleigh ordered to REMOVE 'promotion' of sex
Residents of Bentleigh East in Melbourne (including some of our readers) have run a long campaign against a 'Kittens carwash' in their suburb on Warrigal Road which they claimed did little more than promote an associated Kittens strip club. Bikini clad girls abounded and a bus promoted the strip club.
The local council, Glen Eira Council, eventually agreed and took a case against Kittens to VCAT.
NOW VCAT has agreed!
VCAT has found that whilst they had a permit for a carwash, the main activity was, in fact, to promote sexually explicit entertainment venues.
VCAT has ordered that Kittens carwash "must immediately cease the use of the carwash land for the purpose of promoting sexually explicit entertainment venues from the land". VCAT ordered that they must reduce car wash staff from eight to two, remove promotional billboards and put up a fence on the Warrigal Road site by August 13.
VCAT Decision
VCAT orders Kitten carwash to cease to operate - Statement from Glen Eira Council

Media
Porno car wash works VCAT into a lather
- The Age, May 21, 2008
Kittens car wash could close over permit breach
- Herald Sun , 21 May 2008.

19 May 2008 - California - same-sex 'marriage'
The California Supreme Court has ruled by a 4-3 decision that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. They said that sexual orientation, like race or gender, "does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights."
The decision will take effect in 30 days! The case was brought by several homosexual couples, plus the city of San Francisco and homosexual rights groups - their lawsuit said they were victims of unlawful discrimination.

Christian groups have criticised the decision. Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues for the group Concerned Women for America, said "The California Supreme Court has engaged in the worst kind of judicial activism today, abandoning its role as an objective interpreter of the law and instead legislating from the bench."

Concerned groups cannot appeal to the Supreme Court since it does not have authority over state laws. A referendum could be held on the issue in November - the sponsors have collected hundreds of thousands of signatures and it is awaiting 'verification'.

The Ruling: 172 page, pdf

Media reports:
California ban on same-sex marriage struck down
CNN, 16 May 2008.

Statements on the ruling - The Edge, Philadelphia, 15 May 2008.

Calif measure will test public opinion on gay marriage , AP, 17 May 2008.

12 May 2008 - Marriage, partnerships and more
The ACT government has passed the Civil Partnerships Bill - but they amended it to conform with the wishes of the federal Labor government. Mr Rudd had said he would overturn the Bill if they passed it as it was. The main point of contention was that it included a 'ceremony' and the government, encouraged by some Christian groups, claimed that the 'ceremony' made it mimic marriage. The Australian reported that Jim Wallace of the Australian Christian Lobby claimed that Christians had been influential in forcing the outcome. However they also endorsed the registration of these relationships.

The ABC reports that "The ACT had planned to introduce legislation that would recognise gay unions through a legal ceremony. Instead, couples will be allowed to register their relationship, but any ceremony will have no recognition in law."
The amended scheme will allow for an "administrative ceremony" - however the Attorney-General Simon Corbell said it would have "no legal weight". But the ACT government will PAY for a ceremony done by the Registrar General or 'delegate'.
In his media release Corbell said "Gay and lesbian couples in the ACT will now be able affirm their relationship before friends and families and gain legal recognition of their partnership.... All couples are now entitled to participate in a non-legal ceremony provided by the state and conducted by the Registrar General or her delegates, providing couples with the opportunity to publicly reaffirm their written declaration of commitment."

Ceremony or not, the registering of the relationship, whatever it is called, is what really counts!
Reports:
Corbell regrets failed civil partnership bid
ABC, 4 May 2008.

ACT made to axe gay unions
The Australian, 5 May 2008.

LEGAL RECOGNITION FOR ACT SAME-SEX COUPLES
Media Release, Simon Corbell. 9 May 2008.

Meanwhile Anglican Muriel Porter actually called for same-sex 'marriage'!

5 May 2008 - Review of Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act
The Victorian government is doing a review of the Equal Opportunity Act. Having done an initial consultation, the Reviewer for the Justice Department, former public advocate Julian Gardner, has released an Options Paper.
Submissions are invited - BY 12 May 2008.

Some of the 'options' include giving the Equal Opportunity Commission more power to investigate 'systemic discrimination' - even when a complaint has NOT been made - and to treat some groups more favourably!
Read more, including HOW you can make a submission...
Click here for our Campaign page.

April 2008

The proposed changes give benefits including tax, superannuation, social security, health, aged care, veterans entitlements, workers compensation, employment entitlements.
Attorney General Robert McClelland said that marriage would not be included in the proposed changes. The finance to cover these changes to the law will be provided in the May budget. The estimate of the cost is said to be up to $400 million over four years.

This incredible move by the government gives same-sex couples changes to an additional 42 laws over and above the 58 proposed by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in their 2007 report 'Same Sex - Same Entitlements'.

For more details, to see what Brendan Nelson said (he supports all except marriage, adoption and IVF depending on cost and reasonableness). . . and for
ACTION steps, click here.

29 April 2008 - NSW Tribunal & homosexual foster care
A disturbing decision by the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal has found that a Christian family agency, Wesley Dalmar Child and Family Care - part of Wesley Mission which is in turn part of the Uniting Church in Australia - discriminated against a homosexual couple by not accepting them as 'foster carers'. Wesley told the men they would not be accepted as 'foster carers'; the agency told the Tribunal the relevant doctrine was "the belief that ‘monogamous heterosexual partnership within marriage is both the norm and ideal’ [of the family]."

The Tribunal and said the two men were 'hurt' and embarrassed. The Tribunal ordered Wesley Dalmar to pay each homosexual $5,000. The Tribunal also ordered that Wesley Dalmar "review its policy on homosexual foster carers and take all necessary steps to eliminate unlawful discrimination on the ground of homosexuality in the facilitation and provision of its foster care services”.
Part of the reason was that the Tribunal found that the decision statement not to accept homosexuality was not a doctrine because there was 'diverse opinion' in Christianity and ALSO in the Uniting Church about this matter!

Article: Gay couple wins $10,000 in foster care case
Daily Telegraph, Bruce McDougall, April 25, 2008.

FULL Administrative Decisions Tribunal decision (about 31 pages):
OV and anor v QZ and anor (No.2) [2008] NSWADT 115

At the same time, news from the UK's Christian Institute reveals that two Roman Catholic dioceses which have agencies that provide adoption services have announced they will close their service becasue they have been told they can't refuse to give children to homosexual couples under the UK's new sexual orientation regulations of their Equality Act.

24 April 2008 - 2020 Summit analysis
The 2020 Summit is over but the recommendations and the comment still go on... Undoubtedly it will take on a life of its own. The suggestions from the Summit will become 'policy' approved by the 'people'. That is already Mr Rudd's comment on the republic issue!
Peter has written a three page analysis of the Summit, which we sent on the E-News email system. We have put up a new page on the 2020 Summit and posted our analysis there.
Click here .

23 April 2008 - Free speech win in UK House of Lords
The UK House of Lords has been debating a Bill on hate speech and homophobia. Christian organisations have been opposing the bill saying it would criminalise any criticism of homosexuality.
The Christian Institute reports that an amendment proposed by Lord Waddington has been passed - by 81 to 57. This is good news! It will give a 'free speech protection'.
The amendment says: "In this Part, for the avoidance of doubt, the discussion or criticism of sexual conduct or practices or the urging of persons to refrain from or modify such conduct or practices shall not be taken of itself to be threatening or intended to stir up hatred."
The Bill now goes to the House of Commons.
Click here for the full report.

21 April 2008 - The 2020 Summit is over
Well, the 2020 Summit is over. Many of the proposals coming out of the Summit seem to have been supported by Kevin Rudd before the Summit actually happened - a republic, child care, indigenous issues, a Bill of Rights. Some commentators have noted that many of these were actually Labor policy - or close to it...
But is that because of WHO attended?
* No pro-family advocates, but many supporting the opposite agenda.
- Shelley Argent of PFLAG representing homosexual rights, but no one opposing the normalisation of homosexuality.
- Dr Caroline de Costa, the doctor who was the first to use RU 486, but no pro-life advocates.
* Many advocates for a republic, some with well-known views including David Marr. The monarchists claim it was stacked. Phillip Benwell lists the Governance attendees and notes no monarchists were included. Many of the same people called for a Bill of Rights.
Each of the ten areas came up with one 'top' idea:
Click here to read them.
So how could the result have been any different?
Brett Solomon, the Executive Director of GetUp!, a left-wing political activist movement, calling for a vote and promoting the Republic...
I read that only individuals attended the Summit, and no 'interest groups'! Who are they kidding?
Read Andrew Bolt's analysis of the attendees:
Moses Rudd scales summit
Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun, 9/4/2008.

14 April 2008 - Same sex couples at school formal and removing 'exceptions' in Equal Opportunity law
Yet more proposals to advance the homosexual cause.
A young man who attends Anglican Church Grammar School ('Churchie') in Brisbane, is seeking to take his same-sex partner to a school formal. The school has refused permission. The student is claiming 'discrimination'.
Anglican Church Grammar School bans gay partners at formal
Courier Mail, 12 April 2008.

Some are already saying it is illegal to discriminate oin the grounds of sexual orientation in Queensland!
'" Queensland 's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Susan Booth, says there are exemptions from the Anti-Discrimination Act for private schools but only for the purpose of enrolling students from one gender or religious background. "The law is pretty simple here in Queensland - sexual discrimination is unlawful and it applies to schools, it applies to both public and private schools and so that type of discrimination is unlawful," she said.'

The Archbishop of Brisbane, Phillip Aspinall said over the weekend it was 'up to the school' to decide - but told the media he has no objection about a boy taking a male friend to the formal! But he is the President of the school council!
'Churchie' embroiled in anti-discrimination row
ABC, 14 April 2008.

Now to those 'religious exceptions'
The Victorian government is conducting a Review of 'exceptions' in the Equal Opportunity Act. Various groups are already asking that the religious exceptions - relating to churches, religious schools and individuals on the basis of their religious doctrine - be removed! These currently protect churches and schools and enable them to say 'no' to employing prostitutes or homosexuals or others where the relgious beliefs of the organisation would be compromised.
We need to have our say!
Submissions are being called for - and close on 18 April.
Click here for our Campaign page - with full details.

11 April 2008 - Legislative Council passes Relationships Bill
A sad day for Victoria as the Victorian Legislative Council passed the 'Relationships Bill' at the third reading by a vote of 29 to 9.

This will now begin on 1 December 2008, allowing same-sex and heterosexual couples to register their relationships.
Click here for the Hansard debate - Legislative Council Hansard - 10 April 2008.
Committee stage - amendments and final vote: pages 37 - 43 and pages 52 - 56.

Click here for our campaign page and a full list of the vote.

9 April 2008 - Legislative Council passes Relationships Bill in principle
The Victorian Legislative Council debated the 'Relationships Bill 2007' on Tuesday 8 April.It passed the second reading 'in principle vote by 29 to 10.
Click here to read the Hansard debate and see the vote.
Pages 18 to 58. Vote on page 58.
The Bill now goes to Committee to debate amendments put up by the Greens and a final Third reading vote - probably Wed/Thursday.

7 April 2008 - Registration of same-sex relationships
The Victorian Legislative Council is expected to debate the 'Relationships Bill 2007' this week. it passed the Legislative Assembly a few weeks ago by a vote of 54-24. (see report on 13 March below).

Please contact your FIVE Legislative Council Members and ask them to vote AGAINST this Bill - see our campaign page for more information - click here.

Meanwhile the ACT government is still planning to enact legislation for couples to register their relationships - the government wants a 'Civil Partnership' scheme - some groups are calling for them to do a 'Register' without ceremonies. The federal Attorney General Robert McClelland says he doesn't want ceremonies. Negotiations are continuing, but the ACT government says it is not backing down. Read the SSO's report.
Wayne Morgan, a homosexual activist and one of the architects of both the Tasmanian Relationship register and the ACT Civil Union/Civil Partnership laws, had an article in Online Opinion recently, dispelling some of these myths.

4 April 2008 - 2020 Summit to be held 19-20 April
The 2020 Summit organised by the federal government and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will be held in Canberra on 19th and 20th April 2008.

The Summit will address 10 areas - including health, communities, the economy, etc etc. One federal Minister or Member of Parliament has been chosen to co-lead each of these topic areas along with 10 people chosen for the steering committee representing each area. The Steering Committee has now selected 1000 people (100 for each area).

Information on the Summit:
* Australia 2020 Summit website
* About the Summit
* Summit Topics
* Steering Committee Members
* Participants - listed by topic area and state

The participants at the Summit are being hailed as 'the best and brightest minds' but others have noted there are many bright minds who have not been included in the Summit!
Others also claim to have the 'best and brightest minds' - Future Forum 2020 claims that it "features workshops by Australia's "best and brightest" minds" - but none of their noted and accomplished speakers are included in the Australia 2020 Summit!

Some have called it a "talk-fest" - but others have claimed that it shows the Rudd government is 'listening' to the people.
Who knows? As one commentator noted, it will attract all sorts of ideas - from the practical and sensible to the 'wacky'!

Discussion Papers
Discussion Papers for each topic in the 2020 Summit were released yesterday (3 April):
Discussion papers - Click here to go to the 'Summit Topics' page and click on the topic you are interested in - an overview is provided, plus a Background paper in Powerpoint and pdf form at the bottom of the page.
Christian Kerr analyses the Discussion Papers in The Australian - click here .
Media Report:
Best and brightest ideas thrown on summit table
The Age, 4 April 2008.

In an insightful analysis of the current state of Mr Rudd's government, The Australian warns that Mr Rudd needs to focus on two or three key ideas rather than try and follow a multitude of ideas. The paper warns that his political 'honeymoon period' is coming to an end - meanwhile Mr Rudd is travelling the world to promote the global nature of Australia and the world.
Rudd should take a long-term view
The Australian, 3 April 2008

3 April 2008 - Prostitution legalised in WA
A dark day for Western Australia on Monday night as prostitution was legalised - by ONE vote. Labor MPs were not given a conscience vote.

The deciding vote was that of Shelley Archer - a former ALP MP turned Independent. Late last year she had decided not to support the prostitution legislation, but changed her mind because she claims that the government promised to fund sex and drug education in the State's North-west. But yesterday the government told The West Australian that they had made NO firm commitments!

The Opposition has forecast an explosion of the sex industry in WA - that would not be surprising as that is exactly what happened in Victoria when prostitution was legalised in Victoria.

Archer vote passes brothel Bill
West Australian, 2 April 2008.

Prostitution laws will lead to brothel boom: Opposition
West Australian,2nd April 2008

1 April 2008 - Warning about online predators
A man is facing court in Melbourne after police arrested him and charged him with 12 offences relating to sexual acts with children under 16 and also with possessing child pornography. Police fear that that there may be more victims. He apparently 'met' his victims in online internet chat rooms before meeting them in person.

This is a timely warning: Parents need to be vigilant in monitoring computer use and ensure computers (especially with internet use) are in open view of the family. Young people need to avoid online chat rooms.
Melbourne 'teen sex predator' fears
The Age, April 1, 2008

1 April 2008 - April Fools' Day
The start of April - and I thought about all those April Fools' Day jokes and pranks we used to hear so much about. That got me thinking - just where did it all start?
Wikipedia has a good overview... click here.

The modern version is known as a day for hoaxes and jokes and pranks all done in an effort to catch the gullible unawares... it seems it is possibly a 'relic' of the festivities associated with the equinox festivals. April 1st was celebrated in Great Britain 'in antiquity' but the making of April Fools in the UK goes back to the beginning of the 18th century - an earlier reference was made to it (thirty two days from the start of March) by Chaucer in The Nun's Priest's Tale (~1400AD). Previous sources link back to France and Holland... The Wikipedia overview includes a list of classic 'April Fool's Day pranks'.

For a list of the 2008 pranks and jokes (like Google having tomorrow's website available for searching TODAY!), click here.