Australian Christian Lobby

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Australian Christian Lobby
AustralianChristianLobbyLogo2011a.jpg
Founded 1995
Location 4 Campion Street
Deakin ACT 2600
Canberra, Australia
Phone +61 (02) 6259 0431
Key people Chairman, Tony McLellan
Managing Director, Jim Wallace AM
Chief of Staff, Lyle Shelton
Area served Australia
Motto Voice for values
Website www.acl.org.au

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is a Christian political lobby group having a head office in Canberra and branches in six Australian states and territories. Its motto is "Voice for values". Its managing director is Jim Wallace AM.[1]

The Australian Christian Lobby has three main functions. Supporting politicians who uphold Christian values, lobbying and thirdly informing, educating and activating Christians.[2]

Contents

[edit] Origin

Three men from different denominational affiliations and backgrounds founded the Australian Christian Coalition (ACC) in 1995. At the time of the founding, two of them resided in Canberra and one in Brisbane. The lobby group was the brainchild of John Gagliardi, a lay leader of a large Pentecostal church in Brisbane, who stated that the vision was to create an organisation that would have influence in the political arena, on behalf of all Christians, no matter what denomination. Gagliardi’s background was in journalism, and he held positions as Editor of the Townsville Bulletin and as anchorman for the Channel 10 news. John McNicoll was a retired Baptist Minister turned lobbyist in Canberra before becoming involved in the Australian Christian Coalition. John Miller, who worked with a number of community and government organisations and held leadership positions within his independent, community-based church.

The name of the organisation was changed to the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) in March 2001.[3] The ACL has been described as already having "made its influence felt on a state and national level" at this stage.[4]

[edit] Aim

According to the ACL's website, "The vision of the Australian Christian Lobby is to see Christian principles and ethics accepted and influencing the way we are governed, do business and relate to each other as a community. The ACL aims to foster a more compassionate, just and moral society by seeking to have the positive public contributions of the Christian faith reflected in the political life of the nation."[5] As an example of supporting politicians who uphold Christian values, Jim Wallace has twice organised meetings between leaders of 20 major Christian churches and Prime Ministers.[6]

The ACL also operates the 'Make A Stand' website which the ACL claims "is a service provided to assist the Australian public to respond to political issues in a timely and effective manner."[7]

[edit] Organisation

The Australian Christian Lobby is an Australian Public Company, Limited By Guarantee, registered (having an ABN 40 075 120 517) with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).[8]

ACL files political expenditure returns with Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).[9]

Details regarding the Australian Christian Lobby’s Board [10][non-primary source needed] and the ACL Staff [11][non-primary source needed] are available. ACL issues publications such as the magazine, "Viewpoint" which is provided to each Parliamentarian in Australia free of charge.[12] It provides Media Releases[13][non-primary source needed] and it communicates with its supporters via emailed newsletters.[14][non-primary source needed]

[edit] Some current issues on which ACL lobbies

[edit] Issues related to family

In September 2011, during Child Protection Week, ACL released a report, For Kids’ Sake, in response to increasing levels of abuse, neglect and self harm surrounding children, for which it is claimed sliding marriage rates are partly to blame.[15]

While Australia does have established protocols for the classification of films, computer games, publications and music[16] and for advertising standards[17] this remains unresolved for outdoor advertising with one example showing, "a naked couple provocatively entwined next to a packet of condoms . . (in) proximity to a Catholic primary school".[18] Australia's Prime Minister says, regarding this type of billboard they, "cause me to worry".[19] Responding to a proposed regulatory change in the United Kingdom where, "billboard images of scantily clad models are to be banned in a bid to prevent the sexualisation of children",[20] a televised debate was held between Fiona Patten of the Australian Sex Party and Wendy Francis of ACL.[21]

ACL advocacy for the homeless has included a submission to the New South Wales Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into homelessness and low-cost rental accommodation.[22][non-primary source needed] ACL has consistently supported marriage as, "the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life". In 2004, ACL jointly organised the National Marriage Forum to support this amendment to the Marriage Act and the Family Law Act.[23] The current Australian Prime Minister has said, under her government "the Marriage Act will remain unchanged".[24] ACL continues to advocate for marriage, as defined in the Marriage Amendment Act 2004.[25] [26]

A document on marriage, as linked to the needs of children, was prepared by the Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian Churches, under the auspices of the Australian Christian Lobby. The document was endorsed by 50 of the national church leaders from the Anglican, Catholic, Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, Lutheran, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist Church and Uniting Church.[27]

The Australian Christian Lobby has congratulated ACT Greens Party Convener, Meredith Hunter, on moves to introduce a voluntary code of conduct for retailers to help combat the sexualisation of children.[28]

[edit] Issues relating to life

ACL is opposed to abortion and works for the repeal of legislation that sanctions abortion on demand. ACL jointly organised a March for the Babies[29] to commemorate the second anniversary of the passing of Victoria’s abortion laws which allow abortion up until birth for any reason. ACL has also sponsored Gianna Jessen, an 'abortion survivor' to come to Australia to talk about her experiences.[30] ACL has campaigned on a number of occasions in response to moves to legalise euthanasia by various territory, state and federal jurisdictions[31] with one concern being the, "cheapening of human life by the promotion of suicide options . . . where healthy people could end their lives for comparatively trivial reasons".[32]

Following what the ACL described as a "heart-wrenching story" about a sperm donor being removed from his child’s birth certificate, the ACL lobbied to have biological details included on birth certificates.[33]

ACL has highlighted how some legal Australian brothels have ties to human trafficking and sex slavery.[34] ACL has also submitted that, "many of those who 'choose' prostitution do so out of financial desperation, drug dependency or due to coercion. . . regardless of the reasons for choosing it, the choice is one that will be harmful to a woman's physical and mental health, and detrimental to communities".[35]

Following the death of a 17 year old girl from a drug overdose in a legal Canberra brothel in 2008, an ACT Legislative Assembly Inquiry has recommended 17 new policies on prostitution, including tougher penalties for employing underage people in brothels, removing the need for sole-operating prostitutes to have to register with the Office of Regulatory Services[36] and recommending that more than one sole operator can operate in one place.[37] ACL expressed amazement that the Inquiry "recommended more prostitution, with less controls", with the ACL's Mr Wallace noting, "an inherently dangerous occupation . . . put . . . on the same level as selling fries at McDonalds.” ACL is also screening around Australia the documentary Nefarious: Merchant of Souls[38] which investigates the global sex trade and its links to legal brothels.[39]

[edit] Issues related to poverty and justice

ACL Chief of Staff Lyle Shelton states that poker machines are "causing incredible hardship to children and to families right across this nation and needs to be tackled"[40]. In an effort to minimise harm associated with poker machines, the ACL has supported a trial for mandatory pre-commitment scheme.[41] Further, ACL has worked with GetUp!, the Salvation Army and the Churches Gambling Taskforce to establish the Stop The Loss Coalition which has launched TV and radio commercials designed to assit in, "say(ing) 'no more' to the $12 billion pokies industry and the dreadful harm they inflict on hundreds of thousand of Australians".[42]

ACL has worked with Micah Challenge to Make Poverty History and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on halving global poverty by 2012.[43] In regards to refugees, the Australian Christian Lobby called for all parties to stop playing politics and to co-operate on a solution.[44] "ACL supports the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the preamble of the Constitution".[45]

Regarding persecution of Christians in Egypt, the ACL has called on the Federal Government to pressure Egypt to protect religious minorities such as the Copts.[46]

[edit] Issues relating to youth and education

ACL has established a training program for young people with the target group being 18 to 26 years. The Compass program was a "joint-initiative between ACL and the Compass foundation, which is based in New Zealand”. The program includes mentoring and coaching.[47] ACL has provided input into the formulation of the proposed Australian National Curriculum.[48] ACL lobbied against proposal to replace the terms Before Christ (BC) and Anno Domini (AD) with Before the Common Era (BCE) and Common Era (CE).[49] That proposal was subsequently dropped.[50] ACL hosted the Make It Count event on 21 June 2010, where then-Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott spoke about their positions on a range of issues affecting Christians. Prominent Christian leaders of major denominations attended the Make It Count event.[51] Prior to the Australian 2007 federal election, ACL hosted a Make It Count event with the then Prime Minister John Howard and the then Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd.[52]

Prior to State Government elections ACL also hosts Make It Count events giving the major party leaders an opportunity to provide information on their vision for the State and how they propose to engage with the Christian constituency. Church leaders and others in the audience can also ask questions. State-based Make It Count events have been held in NSW,[53] Victoria,[54] Queensland,[55] Western Australia,[56] Tasmania[57] and the Australian Capital Territory.[58] These events are usually webcast to a wider audience. For both Federal and State elections, the Australian Christian Lobby also holds Meet Your Candidate Forums, primarily in marginal seats, to give voters the opportunity to meet and question the people who are seeking their vote. [59]

[edit] Issues relating to censorship

The ACL is one of the primary supporters of Senator Stephen Conroy's mandatory Internet Blacklist.[60] The ACL seeks to extend the blacklist to filter all pornographic materials and not just materials which are considered inappropriate for children (the original reason for the blacklist's creation). An Australian citizen who wants to download pornographic material via the internet would then have to request that their internet service provider unblock the filter.[61] One day prior to the government announcement of a delay to the implementation of the filter scheme, the ACL was briefed leading to some criticism of their "disproportionate influence" on the filtering policy.[62]

As of 2012, Australia was the only developed nation not to have an R18+ classification for video games. The ACL constantly lobbied against introducing an R18+ classification.[63] The ACL's stance was heavily criticised by the video gaming community,[64] including Christian gamers.[63] 98.2% of 58,589 submissions to a government run public consultation supported introducing the classification,[65] as did the Catholic church.[66] A commentator noted this shows the ACL does not represent all Christians.[66] After over 10 years of negotiations an R18+ bill was introduced into parliament on 15 February 2012. R18+ games are expected to become available after 1 January 2013.

In January 2012 Cineplex Australia caused controversy for displaying a live uncensored twitter feed on its website, after comments which included swearing as well as jokes about bestiality appeared in the feed. ACL Queensland director Wendy Francis described it as "totally inappropriate" and Queensland University of Technology associate professor Axel Bruns said it was rare to see a company using an uncensored Twitter feed on its website, labelling it "a very dangerous strategy". Cineplex Australia subsequently removed the live feed, acknowledging "It shouldn't be on there."[67]

[edit] Issues relating to gay rights

The ACL actively opposes various political moves to grant specific gay rights, particularly those regarding gay marriage, gay adoption and parenting, and has campaigned for the rights of religious organisations to legally discriminate on the basis of sexuality. However the ACL has supported some rights for LGBTI people, such as the legal rights of same sex couples to access Medicare, inheritances, superannuation benefits and social security income support.[68]

The ACL called for the Government to rule out repealing the Marriage Act after the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission confirmed the commission supported same-sex marriage. Jim Wallace has stated that the claim that there is discrimination against homosexual couples is a "myth".[69]

The ACL is of the view that religious institutions, including religious schools, should have the right to apply discrimination on the basis of sexuality, though Jim Wallace has stated he would expect that any school conducting an expulsion on such a basis would do it "in the most loving way that it could for the child".[70]

With Australian gay rights activists advocating an expansion of the "definition of marriage to include a range of relationship models",[71] ACL has raised the possibility that if gay marriage rights were granted, the next push will be for marriage to include polygamous relationships.[72] The ACL also cite the hiding of genetic parental information to children as a reason to prevent gay marriage and prevent gay adoption.[73]

The ACL has criticised the government for working with a gay advisory body to assist its decision making as "disgraceful and pandering to a minority".[74]

Miranda Devine wrote in the Herald Sun that Jim Wallace "has copped more than his fair share of abuse when it comes to defending traditional marriage".[75]

The federal parliament approved a motion proposed by Greens member Adam Bandt for parliamentarians to, "gauge their constituents' views on ways to achieve equal treatment for same-sex couples including marriage". Concurrently a petition supporting traditional marriage, was organised by church groups and collated by ACL. When the politicians reported back on 24 August 2011, this petition was also presented.[76] It contained 52,300 signatures. At the same time GetUp! presented 55,000 signatures supporting same-sex marriage.[77] By 1 December 2011 the GetUp! petition had increased to 140,285 signatures which were presented to the Australian Labor Party conference, where same-sex marriage was an agenda item.[78]

A new marriage petition[79] specifically for the ALP conference, was launched at the ACL National Conference, in October 2011. This new petition was jointly organised by the Australian Christian Lobby and the Australian Family Association. Over a six-week period more than 100,000 people signed up.[80] These signatures were presented to the ALP conference.[81]

[edit] Controversy and criticism

The ACL's policies on censorship, abortion, euthanasia and homosexuality are all strongly opposed by free-speech, pro-choice,[29] pro-euthanasia[82] and gay-rights advocates respectively.

The ACL has been described by a critic as "extremist Christians" and "dominionists",[83] distinctions which the ACL deny and have countered.[84][85]

Greens MP Colleen Hartland has stated "I would think [the ACL's] hatred of gays is un-Christian."[74]

The ACL was involved in the National Marriage Day rally in 2011. Conflicting sources report the ACL as either a co-founder of the rally[86] or just a supporter.[87] The ACL's Jim Wallace told those who attended that there was, "a need to end the pejorative language framing this debate."[87] The Sydney Morning Herald described the event as a "rally to ridicule gay marriage". Guest speakers at the rally stated gay marriage should be "laughed at and ridiculed" and associated gay marriage with paedophilia.[88][86] Regarding the comments made at the rally mental health psychologist Paul Martin stated "Prejudice and ridicule damage the mental health of young same-sex attracted people and the last thing they need to hear are these kinds of offensive comments from people who purport to represent 'family values'."[86] The ACL have also been accused of posting factual inaccuracies in their arguments and spinning defeats as victories on their website.[63] A high ranking Australian Catholic Bishop claims that the ACL is "often driven not to change policy per se, but simply to make noise. To satiate those who support and fund the group."[63]

In September 2011, Jim Wallace stated the majority of Australians were against gay marriage, and that Australian online polls in favour of gay marriage could not be trusted as individual gay rights supporters were voting multiple times. In response to these statements Geoff Lemon accused Jim Wallace of misleading the public, noting that two professional offline polls from 2010 show 57 and 62 percent of Australians support gay marriage respectively.[89] Lemon also accused Wallace was of hypocrisy regarding vote-stacking complaints, regarding the ACL's action over the Adshel advertisements, where they encouraged their supporters to send off pre-written complaints that specifically did not mention any liaison with the ACL, so it would appear that the complaints were coming from individual members of the public.[89]

In December 2011 the Victorian Council of Churches (VCC) released a media release entitled "Australian Christian Lobby does not represent all Australian Christians, nor all Christian viewpoints", expressing dismay at what they described as "the one-sided view of Christianity portrayed in the Australian media". The VCC noted that there is a growing concern amongst its 30 member churches that their voices are not heard or considered because of the media’s reliance on groups like ACL.[90][91] Unlike the Victorian Council of Churches, the NSW Council of Churches supports both ACL[92] and ACL's position on marriage.[93]

[edit] Anzac Day 2011

The ACL attracted controversy after Jim Wallace tweeted on Anzac Day in 2011: "Just hope that as we remember servicemen and women today we remember the Australia they fought for -- wasn't gay marriage and Islamic!"[63][94] Critics responded immediately with statements such as: "Jim Wallace of the Australian Christian Lobby should be ashamed, using Anzac Day to push a homophobic and racist agenda." Wallace later apologised for the comments and deleted them.[94]

In direct response to the controversy Australian Christians started a petition stating that the ACL does not represent their views.

“We are Australian Christians, and we’d like you to know that the Australian Christian Lobby does not speak for us.
—Part of the petition to Prime Minister Julia Gillard

The petition was signed by over 250 people in its first 24 hours.[95]

[edit] Adshel advertisements

In May 2011 the advertising agency Adshel pulled a series of billboards from circulation in Brisbane following what has been described as a coordinated campaign from the Australian Christian Lobby.[96] The advertisements, which were encouraging safe sex, featured a fully clothed, hugging gay couple holding an unopened condom packet.[97] Adshel's CEO stated they removed the billboards after receiving around 30 complaints and that "None of the complaints indicated any liaison with the Australian Christian Lobby, so Adshel was made to believe that they originated from individual members of the public".[97]

The ACL expressed concern at the cyberbullying of a staff member from some activists, which they stated followed Adshel’s decision to remove the advertisements.[98]

The billboards were reinstated following counter-protests of their removal and revelations that the ACL was responsible for the campaign. When the ACL was accused of homophobia an ACL representative publicly stated their complaints had nothing to do with homosexuality and that they opposed "the sexual nature of the ads". However several of the individual complaints to Adshel suggested the ads would "encourage homosexuality".[97]

Both the major political parties voiced support for the ads; State Treasurer Andrew Fraser said complaints about the ad were homophobic[99] and Healthy Communities executive director Paul Martin accused the ACL of trying to have gay people "erased from the public sphere".[100] Over 80,000 people joined a Facebook group supporting the ads following the ACL's actions.[99][101] The ACL's actions backfired further with several advertising agencies deciding to run the ads free of charge.[102]

[edit] Nazi inferences

In July 2011 the ACL joined Loree Rudd, the sister of Kevin Rudd, in accusing supporters of marriage equality of using Nazi tactics in campaigning for equal rights.[103] After Loree Rudd was criticised for referring to gay-rights activists as '"the global gay Gestapo'", the ACL's Jim Wallace suggested marriage equality advocates needed to learn from the horrors of Nazi Germany, stating “I suggest Loree Rudd’s opponents visit the museum in Nuremberg and see how important it is that these deplorable tactics be opposed.”[104] The Jewish Community supporting Marriage Equality called upon Loree Rudd and the ACL to apologise for their comments which "offended both the GLBT community and the Holocaust-survivor community",[105] stating that the ACL's comments that marriage equality lobbyists used the same tactics of “fear and intimidation to silence dissent” as the Nazis did were “offensive and obviously untrue.”[103] NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff also condemned Loree Rudd and the ACL's use of Nazi analogies, stating “Drawing a comparison between advocates of gay marriage and the Gestapo is insensitive and counterproductive. The thoughtless use of Nazi and Holocaust analogies in intelligent and informed discourse is completely inappropriate and unjustified.”[103][105]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lydia Kinda, Review of Breakfast Address by Jim Wallace, The Christian Legal Society, http://www.cls.org.au/wallace_review.htm, retrieved 14 November 2011 
  2. ^ Robert Law (2004), Australian Christian Lobby, Trowel and Sword, http://www.trowelandsword.org.au/Contents/Back%20Issues/Feature%20Articles/2000s/2004/ArchF200411art1.htm, retrieved 18 November 2011 
  3. ^ Historical details for ABN: 40 075 120 517, Australian Business Register (historical details), http://www.abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbnHistory.aspx?abn=40075120517, retrieved 14 November 2011 
  4. ^ Kameel Majdali (2004), Christian leadership in the twenty-first century: An Australian perspective, Teach All Nations Inc., http://www.tan.org.au/assets/documents/articles/christian_leadership_in_the_21_century.pdf, retrieved 14 November 2011 
  5. ^ About ACL, 2010, http://www.acl.org.au/about/, retrieved 23 October 2010 
  6. ^ Dennis Shanahan (5 April 2011), Julia Gillard reaches out to Christian leaders, The Australian, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/julia-gillard-reaches-out-to-christian-leaders/story-fn59niix-1226033650529, retrieved 18 November 2011 
  7. ^ Who Are We? (Make A Stand), 2010, http://www.makeastand.org.au/home/whoarewe.php, retrieved 24 September 2010 
  8. ^ Historical details for ABN: 40 075 120 517, ASIC, http://www.search.asic.gov.au/cgi-bin/gns030c?juris=9&hdtext=ACN&srchsrc=1&acn=075120517, retrieved 15 November 2011 
  9. ^ Political Expenditure Return - 2009-2010, AEC, http://periodicdisclosures.aec.gov.au/PoliticalExpenditure.aspx?SubmissionID=24&ClientID=15605, retrieved 15 November 2011 
  10. ^ Our Board, ACL, http://www.acl.org.au/our-board/, retrieved 15 November 2011 
  11. ^ Our Staff, ACL, http://www.acl.org.au/our-staff/, retrieved 15 November 2011 
  12. ^ Viewpoint, Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, http://lawyerschristianfellowship.org/LCF20011v1.pdf, retrieved 15 November 2011 
  13. ^ Media Releases, ACL, http://www.acl.org.au/media/media-releases/, retrieved 15 November 2011 
  14. ^ Newsletters, ACL, http://www.acl.org.au/media/newsletters/, retrieved 15 November 2011 
  15. ^ Falling marriage rates hurting children: report, Melbourne: The Age, 6 September 2011, http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life/falling-marriage-rates-hurting-children-report-20110905-1jubf.html, retrieved 27 October 2011 
  16. ^ How to comply with classification laws, Australian Government, http://www.classification.gov.au/www/cob/classification.nsf/Page/How_to_Comply_with_Classification_Laws, retrieved 7 November 2011 
  17. ^ , The Advertising Standards Bureau, http://www.adstandards.com.au/, retrieved 7 November 2011 
  18. ^ Fresh controversy over bus stop condom ads, Brisbane Times, 11 October 2011, http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/fresh-controversy-over-bus-stop-condom-ads-20111011-1lipl.html#ixzz1crvIQP9R, retrieved 7 November 2011 
  19. ^ Make it Count 2010 Ms Julia Gillard Questions (at 19:45 min), ACL, 7 August 2010, http://vimeo.com/13959730, retrieved 7 November 2011 
  20. ^ McConnell, Mary (10 October 2011), Goodbye boys! Crackdown on sexual imagery in outdoor advertising will see provocative underwear poses banned, London: Daily Mail (UK), http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2047079/Sex-outdoor-advertising-crackdown-underwear-poses-banned.html#ixzz1d9pN7uWz, retrieved 7 November 2011 
  21. ^ yahoo.7.TV,Sunrise (18 October 2011). "Billboard Battle". Seven Sunrise. http://au.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A2KJjb0Xj6JOTlIAQlVUvYlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEwamhxcDBuBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN2aXNmZWN0BGNvbG8Dc3AyBHZ0aWQD/SIG=12r01vj8i/EXP=1319305111/**http%3a//au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/-/watch/26979516/billboard-battle/. Retrieved 22 October 2011. 
  22. ^ Submission to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into homelessness and low-cost rental accommodation, March, http://australianchristianlobby.org.au/wp-content/uploads/090306-ACL-homelessness-submission.pdf, retrieved 23 October 2011 
  23. ^ The National Marriage Forum - Social Issues briefing #021, Anglican Diocese of Sydney, 6 August 2004, http://www.sie.org.au/pdf/briefings/Social_Issues_briefing_021_-_The_National_Marriage_Forum.pdf, retrieved 5 November 2011 
  24. ^ Make it Count 2010 Ms Julia Gillard Questions (at 12:08 min), ACL, 7 August 2010, http://vimeo.com/13959730, retrieved 5 November 2011 
  25. ^ Nicholas Tonti-Filippini (6 September 2011), Marriage is about rights of the children, Melbourne: The Age, http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/marriage-is-about-rights-of-the-children-20110905-1ju4e.html, retrieved 4 November 2011 
  26. ^ Joe de Bruyn, National Secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (16 October 2011), The fight against same-sex marriage, ACL, http://www.acl.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/07-de-Bruyn.mp3, retrieved 4 November 2011 
  27. ^ Institution of marriage is linked to needs of children, Aust Christian News, August 2011, http://austchristiannews.blogspot.com/2011/08/institution-of-marriage-is-linked-to.html, retrieved 17 November 2011 
  28. ^ Christian lobby congratulates ACT Greens on first steps to combat sexualisation of children, ChristianToday, 2010, http://au.christiantoday.com/article/christian-lobby-congratulates-act-greens-on-first-steps-to-combat-sexualisation-of-children/8908.htm, retrieved 27 October 2011 
  29. ^ a b The abortion issue is alive and kicking, OnLine Opinion, 12 October 2010, http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=11094&page=0, retrieved 27 October 2011 
  30. ^ Abortion survivor joins debate, Melbourne: The Age, 31 August 2008, http://www.theage.com.au/national/abortion-survivor-joins-debate-20080830-4654.html, retrieved 27 October 2011 
  31. ^ Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee’s Inquiry into the Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal) Bill 2008, APH, March, http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/terminally_ill/submissions/sub422.pdf, retrieved 23 October 2011 
  32. ^ Mounster, Bruce (17 February 2012), Nitschke visit stirs debate, The Mercury, http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/02/17/301801_tasmania-news.html, retrieved 28 February 2012 
  33. ^ "Christian lobby welcomes biological details inclusion on birth certificates". Christian Today. 17 February 2012. http://au.christiantoday.com/article/christian-lobby-welcomes-biological-details-inclusion-on-birth-certificates/12838.htm. Retrieved 1 March 2012. 
  34. ^ Legal Australian brothels linked to human trafficking, sex slavery and organized crime, Life Site News, 12 October 2011, http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/legal-australian-brothels-linked-to-human-trafficking-sex-slavery-and-organ/, retrieved 27 October 2011 
  35. ^ Bianca Hall (13 January 2012), Sex in the ACT: Part II, Canberra Times, http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/sex-in-the-act-part-ii/2418733.aspx, retrieved 19 January 2012 
  36. ^ "Inquiry calls for sex industry shake-up". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 February 2012. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-23/prostitution-laws-inquiry/3847818?section=act. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  37. ^ "Crackdown urged on sex trade". The Canberra Times. 24 February 2012. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/crackdown-urged-on-sex-trade-20120223-1tqu8.html#ixzz1nd4extS0. Retrieved 28 February 2012. 
  38. ^ "AU Parliamentary screening tour". Exodus Cry. http://nefariousdocumentary.com/screenings/au-parliamentary-screening-tour/. Retrieved 28 February 2012. 
  39. ^ Christian Lobby: ACT government feeding demand for trafficked women, Christian Today, 24 February 2012, http://au.christiantoday.com/article/christian-lobby-act-government-feeding-demand-for-trafficked-women/12879.htm, retrieved 28 February 2012 
  40. ^ Wilkie insists poker machine deal still holds, ABC, 18 January 2012, http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2012/s3410347.htm, retrieved 19 January 2012 
  41. ^ Christian lobby attacks Tony Abbott over poker machine reform, The Australian, 27 October 2011, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/christian-lobby-attacks-tony-abbott-over-poker-machine-reform/story-fn59niix-1226178467280, retrieved 27 October 2011 
  42. ^ Richard Willingham (29 February 2012). "Wilkie threat to vote against 'weak' pokie reform bill". SMH. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/wilkie-threat-to-vote-against-weak-pokie-reform-bill-20120229-1u1u4.html. Retrieved 1 March 2012. 
  43. ^ Micah Challenge, ChristianToday, 2010, http://au.christiantoday.com/article/micah.challenge.mobilising.supporters.to.halve.world.poverty.by.2012./2084.htm, retrieved 23 October 2010 
  44. ^ Christian Lobby: with compassion and justice, both parties' refugee solutions could work, ChristianToday, 2010, http://au.christiantoday.com/article/with-compassion-and-justice-both-parties-refugee-solutions-could-work/11989.htm, retrieved 23 October 2010 
  45. ^ ACL Submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians, Sept, 2011, http://www.acl.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/110930-ACL-Submission-on-Constitutional-Recognition-of-Indigenous-Australians.pdf, retrieved 26 October 2011 
  46. ^ Australia must pressure Egyptian Government to protect Christians, ACL says, Australian Conservative, 18 August 2011, http://australianconservative.com/2011/05/australia-must-pressure-egyptian-government-to-protect-christians-acl-says/, retrieved 18 November 2011 
  47. ^ Interview - David Yates, Compass Australia Coordinator, Christian Today, 3 Dec 2007, http://au.christiantoday.com/article/interview-david-yates-compass-australia-coordinator/3502.htm, retrieved 27 October 2011 
  48. ^ Submission - Draft K‐10 Australian Curriculum, 28 May 2010, http://australianchristianlobby.org.au/wp-content/uploads/100528-ACL-National-Curriculum-submission.pdf, retrieved 1 November 2011 
  49. ^ No more 'Before Christ', 6PR - Perth, 8 September 2011, http://www.6pr.com.au/blogs/6pr-perth-blog/no-more-before-christ/20110908-1jyon.html, retrieved 1 November 2011 
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