News Archive Oct - Dec 2002

25 November 2002 - State Election Victoria

The Victorian election is on Saturday 29 November. In order to VOTE EFFECTIVELY, you need to know:
1. What the parties stand for.
2. What individual candidates stand for.

List of Questions to Ask Candidates:
This list of questions is an essential tool as you contact your MPs and candidates BEFORE polling day. (Prepared by the Family Council of Victoria)
It is attached below as a pdf file.
Phone your candidates - or call at their campaign office - and ask them a few of the questions. Don't show them the actual question sheet.

• For a complete list of candidates in all electorates, click here for the list on the Victorian Electoral Commission website.
• If you don't know your electorate phone 132326 and they will tell you.
• To find out your current sitting members and your electorates click here , then type in your address.

Christian Values Checklist:
Also attached is our "Christian Values Checklist" which analyses six political parties on a range of moral issues.
To check out the political parties and their policies yourself, click here .

Comments on party policies:
In addition to our checklist we have prepared a paper on the policies of the parties, with some analysis of the stand taken by them in the past three years.
Attached as a pdf file.

20 November 2002 - Embryo Stem Cell Research Bill

The Senate is currently debating this Bill. A second reading vote has been taken - 43 in favour - 26 against - 7 absent.
The debate resumes on 2 December. Amendments will be discussed then.
Please contact your Senators - ask them to vote against the Bill - ask them to support amendments proposed by Senators Harradine, Boswell etc.

13 November 2002 - State Election Victoria

Victorians will go to the polls on Saturday 30 November. This is just three years after the last election when terms are up to four years.

Who will you vote for?
What do the candidates in your election stand for?
What do the parties stand for?

We encourage you to FIND OUT before you vote.
We will post a Christian Values Checklist and some questions for you to ask all your candidates on this site NEXT WEEK (by Wed 20 November). Please check back.
They will also be sent out on our E-News stream - click here to subscribe.

13 November 2002 - Embryo Stem Cell Debate in Senate

The debate on embryo stem cell research started in the Senate on Monday 11 November . A vote is expected next week. Please pray that this bill is not passed.

16 October 2002 - Attack in Bali

The attack in Bali last Saturday (12/10), a suspected terrorist attack, has brought the situation much closer to home as people have heard and read reports and learnt of all the personal stories of lost and killed relatives.

• Please pray for the families of those who were killed.
• Please pray that those who are responsible will be brought to justice. Investigators suspect that an Islamic group in Indonesia could be responsible.
• Please pray for wisdom for the leaders of Australia's government as they face difficult decisions in the days ahead.

15 October 2002 - 'gay' games in trouble

The organisers of the 'gay' games have more problems

- SBS has withdrawn from an arrangement to televise the games, citing problems with 'organisation'.

- Ticketek won't release "DESPERATELY needed money" from the ticket sales - The games organisers could not get insurance, required to cover an advance of ticket money, in Australia so they had to go to the UK. They need $250,000 to pay for insurance and they have not got it!!!

- Westpac: They are also trying to get a loan from Westpac to cover the payment and are having difficulty. WESTPAC SHAREHOLDERS should consider writing to Westpac and tell them not to risk your money and compromise your morals.

Why all the problems??? They are saying it's because of the collapse of mardi gras - surprise surprise!!

Please write to the sponsors: Click here for details on the games website.