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Following the ALP debacle in the October 2004 Federal elections, there has been a realisation among some Labor MPs  that  they  will not win government until they begin to empathise  with   the  moral values of  many church attending Australian voters.  In the last census, 70% of    Australians identified themselves as Christian; only 20% attend church regularly, but that 20% is an important constituency because  they  vote on issues and are not motivated solely by economics. 

In December 2004, Labor MP Kevin Rudd, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, who has always publicly professed his Christian faith, convened the first   caucus working group with  Labor MPs  on 'Faith,  Politics and Values'. Over 30 attended  - they plan to meet every fortnight of the sitting weeks this year.  The attendees may be sincere - or this may just be an effort to catch the Christian vote. 

However, "getting religion" involves more than reading from the Bible and hymn singing.  The National Prayer Breakfast in Canberra in December 2004 was a case in point.  Mr. Bruce Baird, MP (Lib) did an excellent job organising the event.  The Great Hall in Parliament was packed, over 600 attended, and among those who read from the Scriptures were the Governor General Michael Jeffery, Prime Minister John Howard, Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, and Mr. Rudd. The Governor General and John Anderson have spoken   previously deploring the high incidence of abortion while Mr. Howard is trying to quieten the debate.  Mr. Rudd needs to publicly disown the "Emily's List"  agenda of  ALP feminists. As for Mr. Baird, after the Breakfast when he was lobbied by pro-lifers, he was abrupt and unsympathetic.  He will not be championing the cause of our unborn babies.