ENDEAVOUR FORUM NEWSLETTER No. 123, FEBRUARY 2006

 

 

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FREEDOM AT RISK

BABETTE FRANCIS

Victoria's Racial & Religious Tolerance Act has already infringed on the freedom of religion and freedom of expres­sion rights of Victorians. The further amendments made by the Victorian Government, described by Premier Bracks as "minor amendments", have made the situation worse. Amendments giving the Equal Opportunity Commission the power to bring people in for interrogation and the power to require people to produce documents are not "minor" amendments, They are reminiscent of the powers exer­cised in Nazi Germany and by the KGB in the Soviet Union.

The Equal Opportunity Commission has demonstrated that it can be grossly partisan. In the case of the "Catch the Fire" pastors, the Commission assisted the Muslim com­munity to create a case against the pastors. By way of contrast, when Robert Mears, a Christian, sought the assis­tance of the Commission to bring a case for what was gross vilification of the Catholic Church and of Catholics in school text books for use in Year 8 in the state school system, the commission told Mears his complaint "lacked substance and was misconceived".

The Charter of Rights & Responsibilities Act is a further attack on our freedom. (See Charles Francis's article pp 7 - 10). Although the atrocious section defining the right to life as beginning at birth has been removed, the Charter does not provide any protection for unborn children although it pays lip service to UN human rights Conventions. The Charter Act now says that "natural persons" cannot be arbitrarily deprived of life, but it does not define who are "natural persons" or what "arbitrary" means. The meaning of these words will no doubt be determined by judicial activists.

Add to this the determination of the Victorian Labor Party to decriminalise abortion after the next State election, and we can see that not just our freedoms but the lives of the unborn are in even greater peril than they are now. Although the law is not enforced, currently the fact that abortion and the offence of “Child Destruction” are in the Criminal Code of Victoria are the only protection for doctors, anaesthetists, nurses and ancilliary staff who do not wish to participate or co-operate in any way with abortion. They can rightly say that no hospital or clinic can compel them to take part in what is, or may be, a criminal act. However, with the decriminalisation of abortion, this protection will go. Medi­cal personnel who do not wish to participate in abortions have already been penalised and harrassed for acting in ac­cordance with their consciences, and this situation will only get worse with the decriminalisation of abortion.


Victorian Shadow Attorney General, Andrew McIntosh, has warned that the Government's "rights agenda" as reflected in the Charter of Rights & Responsibilities Act is dangerous and divisive and driven by political correctness. "Labor’s Bill of Rights could have far -reaching and unintended con-sequences for Victorians. I have serious concerns about the Bill. All Victorians should have a say in whether it becomes law", he said. McIntosh has questioned whether it would protect free speech, religious freedom and equality. The Bill supports affirmative action/preferential treatment for some groups at the expense of others and has a great deal to say about “rights” but precious little about responsibilities.

Mr. McIntosh said that under the Victorian Constitution, a referendum could be held on the Bill to coincide with the State election on November 25. "Victorians are entitled to a rigorous and comprehensive debate on the legislation and its impact rather than have it imposed on them without a say".

The National Party of Victoria has consistently opposed the Racial & Religious Tolerance legislation. Please come and hear their speakers at our public meeting.

 

 

 

Member Organisation, World Council for Life and Family

NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the UN