News Archive from January - February 2006

27 Feb 2006 - Government leaders outspoken on integration and immigration

Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello have recently been outspoken on the the need for Muslims to accept Australian culture and laws.
We congratulate them on their forthrightness in speaking about the need for all Australians to integrate and have loyalty to our nation.
The Treasurer spoke to the Sydney Institute this week, also opposing 'mushy' multiculturalism. He says he thought all Muslims who oppose the 'radicals' would support his message - instead many Muslim leaders - of all types - criticised him.

The Speech.....

WORTH PROMOTING, WORTH DEFENDING
AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP, WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW TO NURTURE IT
ADDRESS TO THE SYDNEY INSTITUTE by The Hon Peter Costello MP
THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2006
"............But Australia is not an emigrant nation; – not like the Greeks or the Irish. Australia is an immigrant nation. This is a defining characteristic of who we are.
Outside Australia 's indigenous people, we are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants – some earlier than others - but all with an experience of immigration during the foundation of modern Australia . Australia is part of the New World – the world of immigrants – not part of the Old World – the places they embark from. This is why we are suspicious of inherited titles and privileges. Nobody can afford to get too precious about their position or entitlements in this country because we all know that position and entitlements are comparatively new..........."

Regarding our current situation regarding Muslims who live in Australia and the rule of law, Peter said:

"We have a compact to live under a democratic legislature and obey the laws it makes. In doing this the rights and liberties of all are protected. Those who are outside this compact threaten the rights and liberties of others. They should be refused citizenship if they apply for it. Where they have it they should be stripped of it if they are dual citizens and have some other country that recognizes them as citizens.
Terrorists and those who support them do not acknowledge the rights and liberties of others – the right to live without being maimed, the right to live without being bombed – and as such they forfeit the right to join in Australian citizenship.
The refusal to acknowledge the rule of law as laid down by democratic institutions also stabs at the heart of the Australian compact."
He then goes on to speak about the "radical Muslim Cleric Ben Brika" and his view that there are two laws - Australian law and Islamic law...

The full speech is on the Treasurer's website – click here.

21 Feb 2006 - Cabinet approves funding for abortion counselling

The Federal Cabinet has approved a $60 million package to provide counselling and support to pregnant women who may be considering abortion. The counselling would be provided by independent counsellors, not the abortion clinics. A 'hotline' would also be established for women to phone for support.
This is a positive step forward in increasing awareness about abortion and providing women with other options in setting that is outside the abortion providers' clinics. We congratulate the government for this initiative aimed at decreasing the number of abortions.
There has been some question (and opposition from pro-choice groups and MPs) about church groups providing this counselling, however Tony Abbott is keen for various groups to participate in providing the counselling.
Article from The Australian:
Cabinet vows $60m to cut abortion rates
The Australian, February 22, 2006.
"JOHN Howard has warned cabinet that Australia's abortion rate is too high, as senior ministers last night endorsed a multi-million dollar boost for counselling and pregnancy support.
Health Minister Tony Abbott won the unanimous support of cabinet to introduce a 24-hour advice hotline for pregnant women and a Medicare rebate to offer women counselling if they are considering terminating a pregnancy............"

17 Feb 2006 - Details on the RU 486 VOTE

Some details on the debate and vote on the "Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Bill 2005".
Even though the final Bill was passed 'on the voices' (see below), a Second Reading vote was taken on the intention of the members regarding the Bill.

We are disappointed that a final division and counted vote was not called on the Bill.
However, the Second Reading vote gives the general intention of the member's vote on the Bill.

There may have been some Members who voted for the Bill in the Second Reading and then voted for the Laming amendment who might then have decided to vote against the total Bill itself in the third reading. Since a final vote was not counted we cannot definitively say who supported the final Bill - although there were only six more MPs who voted for the Laming amendment than the number who had voted against the Bill.

Jackie Kelly's amendment
Following the debate on the Bill itself, the amendment sponsored by Jackie Kelly, which would have given the veto on the drug to the whole Parliament instead of the Health Minister was considered.
This was defeated by 96 votes to 49.

Second reading vote
A vote was then taken on the second reading of the Bill.
This was 95 in favour, 50 against.
This gives the intention of the members regarding the actual Bill.

Andrew Laming's amendment
Following the Second Reading vote, the amendment proposed by Andrew Laming was considered. This would have given the responsibility to the TGA but given the parliament the right to veto the TGA decision.
This amendment lost by a vote of 90 to 56.

Third Reading
The Bill then went to a third and final reading and vote. No count of the vote was taken on the Third Reading. The Bill was passed 'on the voices' since no one called for a division.

Voting on the Bill and Amendments

For a list of how all MPs voted on each of the amendments - and most importantly on the Second Reading, see the Hansard.
This is a pdf document.
For the relevant three votes and lists of MPs, refer to the numbered (not actual) pages of the document.
Jackie Kelly amendment - Page 34
Second reading - Pages 34-35
Andrew Laming amendment - Pages 40-41
Third Reading - Page 41
Click here .

For your convenience the details on all these votes have been placed in a Word document and attached below .

16 Feb 2006 - RU 486 VOTE RESULT - BILL PASSED

The House of Representatives has voted today in favour of the Bill to hand over the responsibility for considering and approving RU 486 to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, thus removing the responsibility from the Health Minister and the Parliament.

Two amendments were put up... One of these amendments, proposed by Liberal backbencher Andrew Laming was voted down by 90 votes to 56. It would have given the authority to the TGA but given the Parliament the power to veto their decision. Earlier an amendment by Liberal Jackie Kelly was defeated which would have given the parliament the veto on the drug.

A vote was taken on the second reading of the Bill. Then Andrew Laming's amendment was considered. The Bill then went to a third and final reading and vote.

No count of the vote was taken on the Third Reading. The Bill was passed 'on the voices' since no one called for a division.

However, the Second Reading vote gives the intention of the member's vote on the Bill.

Media articles:
Controversial bill passes, The Age, February 16, 2006

Australia Shifts Control of Abortion Drug, AP, Feb 16, 2006.

16 Feb 2006 - RU 486 vote due TODAY

The House of Representatives debated the Bill on who approves RU 486 until midnight last night, Wednesday 15 February. Debate continues today with a vote later today.

The issue has been difficult for some MPs who are personally opposed to abortion because some of them see it as simply a 'process' question.
Those promoting the Bill have argued that the TGA is 'expert' and that the Health Minister is a 'single person'.

The reality is that the TGA is supposed to analyse THERAPPEUTIC drugs (see definition in the ACT) that HEAL. In addition the Health Minister ONLY makes decision on advice - from his Department, the TGA, the Health Ethics Committee, etc.
The telling point in this debate is that some of those promoting the Bill such as Sharman Stone say it is just procedural and not about abortion but at the same time have been ACTIVELY talking about abortion and promoting the 'need' for RU 486.

We urge all MPs to vote against the Bill to ensure that Parliament retains control of this dangerous drug.

An insightful article by Charles Francis QC
Lonely Deaths in Chilly Places was published in the Herald Sun today. It makes essential reading. He reveals:
* No US drug company would touch the drug and a shell company Danco was set up by the Population Council Inc to market the drug. Danco is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and ONLY markets RU 486.
* The court documents in cases against Danco by the families of women who died from RU 486.
* Danco has the drug manufactured in China by a company "cited by the FDA for producing tainted drugs".
* The manufacturer of the second drug used to complete the abortion (Cytotec - Misoprostol) has repeatedly warned that the drug is UNSUITABLE for use in abortions. He says that "The doctors appear to be almost inviting legal action."
The article is attached.

14 Feb 2006 - Federal Parliament RU 486 debate and vote

The Senate debated and voted on the RU 486 Bill on Thursday 9 February. They voted 45 to 28 in support of taking the responsibility for approving the use of the abortifacient drug RU 486 from the Health Minister and giving it to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The Bill is called the "Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Bill 2005".

The Senate Community Affairs Committee published their report into the approval process for the abortion drug RU 486 on Wednesday 8 February.
The report is now available on the Committee website - click here.

Debate is now being held in the House of Representatives
- with a vote due on Thursday 16 February.
We urge everyone to contact their local MP and ask them to vote against the Bill.
Click here for more information on the Bill, our reasons for opposing the Bill and how to contact your MPs etc.

11 January 2006 - Summit Worldview conference

The Summit Ministries worldview conference starts on Sunday 15 January in Canberra.

If you haven't registered there is still time to do so.

14 December 2005 - Response to the Sydney riots...

The riot that started on Sunday 11 December as a demonstration to claim the Cronulla beach in Sydney by young Australians has featured in newspaper headlines across the nation. Headlines that accused the youth of racism at Cronulla on Sunday ignored the past tensions - including the bashing of two lifeguards the week before by a Middle Eastern gang and the intimidation and abuse dished out to locals by visiting Muslim youth.
Muslim youth retaliated the following night... Strong police presence the next night has halted the violence...

Andrew Bolt's response to the riots is available on the same link...