News Archive December 2007 and January 2008

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January 2008

30 January 2008 - Back into a new year!
The SUMMIT Worldview conference was a very insightful week of lectures. Now that it is over, we are back looking at all the matters affecting society. In the coming months, governments will be debating and implementing new legislation.

In Victoria, the decriminalisation of abortion (click here and here), the establishment of a Relationship Register for same-sex couples (click here) and the extension of IVF to include lesbians and single women (click here) are all on the agenda.
This week some MPs (a Liberal and a Green) have said they plan to introduce a private member's bill to legalise euthanasia (doctor assisted dying!) as well!!! (Click here for article)

And that is ONLY Victoria! It looks like a busy year ahead.

If you live in Victoria, please start contacting your SIX MPs (click here) and the Party leaders (click here) about these issues.

7 January 2008 - ONE WEEK to SUMMIT Melbourne!
The SUMMIT Worldview conference will be held in Melbourne starting on Sunday 13 January.

This is a worldview school - looking at the Christian worldview and how it applies to every area of life - and then analysing all the other worldviews including Humanism, Marxism, Islam, Postmodernism etc...
The conference starts with the 6 pm service at Crossway Baptist in Burwood East. David Noebel will be speaking and the service will be followed by a lecture by Darrell Furgason.
From Monday to Friday the conference will be held at Deakin University in Burwood. (Lecture Theatre 1). Each day starts at 9.15 am daily - 3 lectures before lunch and one after, followed by a speakers forum and optional session.
Then a break for dinner (by the way this is available at $15 per night - pre-book by Wed 9 Jan). Accommodation available at $40 a night for bed and breakfast.
The evening session starts at 7.30 pm - two lectures each evening.
Four overseas speakers plus a number of Australian speakers.
Cost: Full; conference $275, student $180.
Evening sessions free - offering taken.
Full details on the SUMMIT website - speakers schedule, accommodation and meals details, maps, etc.
Click here.
Call the office to register - 03 9800 2855.

2 January 2008 - Happy New Year
The New Year started with a bang for many people - fireworks gave a literal bang with many people gathering in the cities of Melbourne and Sydney - elsewhere people gathered on beaches to drink and celebrate. The aimlessness of it all was emphasised as we saw pictures on the TV News of people arrested for violence or people suffering from the after-effects of drinking too much alcohol.
We (Peter and Jenny) attended the New Year celebration and prayer meeting held by Rise Up Australia - what a contrast to proclaim the names of God in the minutes leading up to midnight and then share communion together - a real celebration of all that Jesus Christ has done for us!

We look forward to the year ahead and continue to rely on God for His provision and support. May God bless you this year!

December 2007

24 December 2007 - Victorian government promises relationship registers PLUS IVF for lesbians and single women!
In the weeks leading up to Christmas the Victorian government has announced that they plan to introduce a Relationships Register for homosexual and heterosexual couples.
The Bill was introduced to Parliament in early December and is now on the internet, along with the Explanatory Memorandum and the Second Reading Speech by Attorney General Rob Hulls.
Click here for the Bill - then click on 'Parliamentary Documents', then 'Bills', then scroll down to 'Relationships Bill 2007'.
PLEASE contact your MPs to oppose this Bill - click here for more details.
Media:
New laws to mirror marriage rights for gay couples
Herald Sun, December 05, 2007.
Register for gay, de facto couples
The Age, David Rood. December 5, 2007

We also now understand that the Victorian government may well push the 'Relationship Register Bill' through in the first sitting of State Parliament in Feb. 2008.

NOW the Victorian government has announced that they plan to change the law to allow single women and lesbians to access IVF - plus they are planning to alter the surrogacy laws.
Click here for details and action on our campaign page.

18 December 2007 - SUMMIT conference coming soon!
The SUMMIT worldview conference is coming to Melbourne in January.
It is time to BOOK!
13-19 January. Sunday evening at Crossway Baptist Church, East Burwood.
Monday 14 - Saturday 19 at Deakin University, Burwood.
Learn about Biblical Christianity as well as Secular Humanism, Marxism, New Age, Islam and Postmodernism in the areas of theology, philosophy, history, law, economics and more. Four US speakers - plus many from Australia.
Register now - phone the Salt Shakers office on 03 9800 2855.
Cost: Adult: $275; Student/alumni: $180. Evenings free - donation.
On-site student accommodation available - and evening meals by pre-booking. (Both at additional cost).
Full details - costs, brochure, speakers list - on the Summit website. Click here.

10 December 2007 - Baby tax? Carbon tax for children?
A letter from a Western Australian 'Clinical Professor in Obstetric' Barry Walters, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, has called for a baby TAX (yes, get rid of the baby bonus, now a tax if you have more than two children) of $5,000. PLUS an annual carbon tax of up to $800 per child in an effort to save the planet from greenhouse gases.
Is he serious? Unfortunately we think he is... he also calls for carbon credits for condoms, sterilisation etc etc - for users and prescribers. In all, anything that will REDUCE the population!
Barry Walters letter
Medical Journal of Australia, 3-17 Dec 2007.

He was responding to an article in the previous MJA:
Personal Carbon Trading: a potential “stealth intervention” for obesity reduction?
Garry Egger, Australian Medical Journal, 187 - 3.

5 December 2007 - Bill of Rights on the agenda
During the election campaign Kevin Rudd and Labor played down the possibility of having a Bill of Rights for Australia.
Kevin Rudd told the Make it Count audience that "So if there are better forms and better mechanisms for protection available through the law in the future, can I say this? We will do so in complete consultation and partnership with the Christian community on the way through." He said they would consult but had no commitment to a Bill of Rights.

NOW? "At some point in the next three years, the incoming attorney-general, Robert McClelland, plans to sign a landmark charter enshrining the rights and responsibilities of the nation's legislators."
He does plan to consult people to see what 'rights' should be included... this sounds like Victoria's consulting for their 'Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities' - already deciding to have a Charter but seeking input!
Do-it-yourself charter to right future wrongs
SMH, 1 Dec 2007.
Conservatives must join rights talks
Janet Albrechtsen, The Australian , Opinion, 5 Dec 2007.

4 December 2007 - Kevin Rudd sworn in as Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd was sworn in as Prime Minister yesterday (3 December) in a ceremony at Government House officiated at by Governor-General Michael Jeffery. This was followed by the swearing in of his Deputy, Julia Gillard and then the 28 ministers and 12 Parliamentary Secretaries. They all hold office as members of 'Executive Council'.

We were pleased to see that Kevin Rudd took his oath of office holding the Bible, and concluding 'So help me God'. However Julia Gillard made an affirmation. In all, of the 42 people, a total of 19 took an oath and 23 made an affirmation.

A video of the ceremony is available on the ABC website. It is 6 minutes long and shows Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.
Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard sworn in by Governor General
ABC News, Monday 3 December 2007.

Media reports:
Nelson backs gay reforms
SMH, AAP, December 2, 2007.

Brendan Nelson joins the Insiders
Transcript - Insiders, ABC, 02/12/2007.

Liberal backflip on gay rights
Glenn Milne, Sunday Courier Mail, December 02, 2007.