View Family First Responses

1. Freedom of religion

Australia has a proud record for protecting freedom, but increasingly faith-based organisations and individuals are unduly prevented from giving expression to their religion, or being pressured to act against their conscientiously-held beliefs, particularly in the areas of employment, service delivery, and education. Would your Party ensure that, like political parties, churches and religious bodies have their right to employ staff who share their ethos protected?

• Yes - Family First would fight to ensure that churches and religious bodies have the right to employ staff that share their ethos.
• At a state level, Family First has already successfully moved amendments to protect church hiring practices and we will continue to fight for these protections into the future.

Family First fought hard for, and won, exemptions in the South Australian Equal Opportunity Bill for churches to continue hiring people with a sexual lifestyle they agree with in administrative roles. Family First has led the way in Parliament to preserve religious freedom, and it will continue to do so into the future.
 

2. Prayer in parliament

The preamble to Australia’s Constitution states that our nation is “humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God”. Does your Party commit to maintaining the convention of opening Parliament each day exclusively with the Lord’s Prayer?

• Yes - Family First commits to maintaining the Lord's Prayer at the opening of Parliament.
• Family First is on the record for publicly opposing moves to replace the Lord's Prayer.

Family First recognises that Australia has a rich Christian heritage, and acknowledges the Christian foundations of our legal and parliamentary systems. It is appropriate to recognise these foundations through the reading of the Lord's Prayer.
 

3. Overseas aid

Will your Party confirm the current Government commitment to contribute 0.5% Gross National Income to international aid and development efforts by 2015? What timeline will it put in place to reach the internationally agreed target of 0.7% GNI?

• Family First supports the Government's initiative to contribute 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) to International aid.
• Family First supports calls from the Make Poverty History campaign that the Australian Government should join other OECD countries by committing to a timetable for overseas aid as a proportion of GNI of 0.7%.

Family First supports the Government's initiative to contribute 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) to international aid. In 2009, Australia contributed 0.29% of GNI to international aid - well below the OECD average of 0.48% and the UN target of 0.7%. In 2010, Australia ranked 16 out of 23 OECD countries for the amount of aid given as a proportion of our national income. Family First supports calls from the Make Poverty History campaign that the Australian Government should join other OECD countries by committing to a timetable for overseas aid as a proportion of GNI of 0.7%.

4. Refugees

The immigration debate is complex, involving the competing priorities of meeting our moral obligation to offer asylum to genuine refugees, while minimising vulnerability to people smuggling, and ensuring border protection. What measures will your Party take to balance these competing priorities?

• Family First recognises that genuine refugees need protection, but also that people smuggling is a particularly insidious business.
• Over 170 people have died at sea trying to reach Australia since recent policy changes made us a more attractive target for people smugglers. Australia needs to be made an unattractive target for people smugglers to reduce this suffering and needless death.
• Children and minorities suffering from intense religious persecution, including Christians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran, should have their claims for refugee status dealt with swiftly.

Family First recognises that immigration is a complicated issue. Family First recognises that genuine refugees need protection, but also that people smuggling is a particularly insidious business. Over 170 people have died at sea trying to reach Australia since recent policy changes made us a more attractive target for people smugglers. Australia needs to be made an unattractive target for people smugglers to reduce this suffering and needless death. Part of the solution therefore involves off-shore processing, which is unappealing to many illegal immigrants who choose to enter Australia for purely economic reasons.

Family First supports rapid appraisal of those claiming refugee status to determine legitimacy. Minorities suffering from intense religious persecution, including Christians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran should be considered favourably. Further, as of 21 May 2010 there were 427 children in detention. Immediate steps must be taken to fast track the determination of these children's eligibility for residency.

We also keep in mind that only 30% of illegal immigrants come to Australia by boat. 70% of illegal immigrants come to Australia by plane. Less focus needs to be put on the method of arrival of illegal immigrants, and more focus needs to be placed on the fast determination of their claims.

5. Religious security

Many vulnerable people experience intolerable suffering in various countries due to persecution and a lack of religious freedom, often because of laws that forbid practice of non state religions. What would your Party do to encourage apostasy laws to be repealed in such countries, so that people are free to follow their own religious convictions without fear? What else would your Party do to support vulnerable people groups overseas, and respond to specific instances of religious or ethnic persecution?

• Family First believes that Australia needs to be more active in highlighting abuse and the targeting of minority religions in foreign countries. 
• Laws prohibiting religious conversion run contrary to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and should be dealt with by international bodies with Australian support.

Family First believes that Australia needs to be more active in highlighting abuse and the targeting of minority religions in foreign countries - particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

Laws prohibiting religious conversion run contrary to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief." The appropriate forum for action is therefore the United Nations, and Family First would support any reasonable actions through this forum and other international forums to highlight and deal with the abuse of so-called ‘apostasy’ laws overseas.

6. Homelessness and housing affordability

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, on any given night there are approximately 100,000 homeless Australians. What policies will your Party implement to address this problem? How will your Party respond to the issue of housing affordability?

• Family First recognises that homelessness is a tragic reality in Australia.
• Homelessness is an area in which community organisations such as the Inter Church Housing Group can be more properly resourced to take a lead, and find lasting solutions when the Government has given up. 
• Governments – Federal and State – also have a clear obligation to more appropriately release land for development and train building apprentices to increase housing availability.

Each day nearly one in every 200 Australians is homeless, without safe, secure or affordable housing. Last year, 105 000 Australians experienced homelessness.

Family First recognises that homelessness is a tragic reality in Australia. Part of the problem has been the total failure of the Government welfare organisations around Australia to adequately deal with the ever increasing number of people needing assistance. Homelessness is an area in which community organisations such as the Inter Church Housing Group can be more properly resourced to take a lead, and find lasting solutions when the Government has given up. Community housing organisations, rather than Government welfare agencies, have been shown to be more efficient and more successful in the longer term in dealing with homelessness.

On a state level, Family First has successfully passed amendments to housing legislation that give community and church housing organisations greater security when arranging housing deals with the Government. Family First has also consistently lobbied for an increased release of Government land for housing, and better provision for the training of building apprentices. This means more housing for people without a home of their own.

7. Taxation considerations

The ‘Henry review’ of Australia’s taxation system recommended the winding back of Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) arrangements. FBT concessions make churches and church-based service-providers in the health, community and welfare sectors more financially viable, ensuring the maintenance of services to some of our most vulnerable people. Would your Party support the retention of FBT concessions for churches and faith-based charities?

• Yes – Family First supports the retention of FBT concessions for church and faith-based charities.
• If the exemptions were removed most Christian organisations would be forced to retrench staff.

One aspect of particular concern to local churches is Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). The Henry Tax Review has suggested that FBT exemptions to non-profit organisations including churches be revoked.

If the exemptions were removed most Christian organisations would be forced to retrench staff. However, Family First supports the retention of FBT concessions for church and faith-based charities.

It must be remembered that the FBT exemption for certain non-profit organisations is not a 'loophole' in taxation legislation. The High Court has ruled that the exemptions are legal and intended. Similar concessions exist overseas to recognise the important contributions that churches and non-profit organisations already make to the community. In the United States, for example, donations to churches are tax deductable. Unlike for-profit corporations, which exist to benefit their shareholders, not for profit organisations and churches exist to benefit the community. Given that these organisations already contribute to the community, it is reasonable to expect that they should be granted an exemption of some taxes.

8. Cloning

Given that the scientific basis for ‘therapeutic cloning’ has changed since the Federal Parliament considered cloning in 2006, and that there is now an entirely ethical and uncontentious method to obtain the same specialised stem cells that cloning scientists have never managed to obtain, does your Party support a new conscience vote on laws permitting the creation of cloned human embryos solely for research?

• Yes – Induced pluripotent stem cell has made the need for stem cell research on aborted embryos unnecessary.
• It is therefore morally imperative that any laws relating to embryonic stem cell research be reconsidered.
• Induced pluripotent stem cell has made the need for stem cell research on aborted embryos unnecessary. It is therefore morally imperative that any laws relating to embryonic stem cell research be reconsidered.

At a state level, Family First has fought in Parliament for a ban on embryonic stem cell research given advances in technology and also bans on animal-human hybrid research.

9. Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the intentional killing of a ‘suffering’ patient. Legalised euthanasia alters the social contract with the vulnerable and ‘unwanted’ in society, who will perceive the so-called ‘right to die’ more as a ‘duty to die’, and corrupts the doctor-patient relationship in profound ways. While the vote may be a conscience one, will your Party reject any moves to legalise euthanasia?

• Yes – The Family First Party has consistently opposed all bills that have as their object the legalisation of active euthanasia.
• Family First maintains the position that allowing so-called ‘mercy killing’ or assisted suicide sends the wrong message about the sanctity of life and may result in some elderly South Australians feeling that they have a duty to die.

Family First led the charge against Greens’ Euthanasia legislation at a state level, defeating the bill by only one vote.

The Family First Party has consistently opposed all bills that have as their object the legalisation of active euthanasia. Family First maintains the position that allowing so-called ‘mercy killing’ or assisted suicide sends the wrong message about the sanctity of life and may result in some elderly South Australians feeling that they have a duty to die. Family First strongly believes that quality palliative care is a sound alternative to euthanasia and other assisted suicide proposals.

Our opposition to active euthanasia is based on a public policy ground that it is inappropriate for a state such as ours to tacitly condone or promote the taking of life either by suicide, assisted suicide, or by active euthanasia.

That is not to say that Family First believes that artificial methods should be employed to prolong life when there are no prospects of recovery – or, indeed, when the patient does not consent to medical intervention. In many medical cases, pain relief or other medication is required by a patient even when there is the knowledge that the treatment or pain relief may shorten the patient’s life. If the treatment is required to alleviate suffering or for other medical needs then, again, Family First is not opposed to it. 

10. Abortion

The 2007 annual report of the Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (Victoria) showed that 52 out of 181 late term babies who were aborted for “abnormalities” survived late term abortions but died neo-natally. Would your Party support a conscience vote on Medicare funding for abortions carried out on babies old enough to be viable outside the womb?

• Yes – Family First has raised numerous concerns in Parliaments around Australia regarding late term abortions. 
• Family First would support a conscience vote to ban the Medicare funding of abortion carried out on babies old enough to be viable outside the womb.

11. Abortion Data

There are approximately 80,000 abortions performed in Australia each year, but obtaining accurate figures is fraught by bureaucratic impediments. What will your Party do to obtain more accurate and complete abortion data in line with the cross-party recommendation of the 2008 Senate inquiry into the Health Insurance Regulations?

Yes – In Federal and State Parliaments, Family First has fought to obtain better abortion data.

12. Chaplaincy

The 2009 research paper, “The Effectiveness of Chaplaincy”, showed that the Federal Government’s National School Chaplaincy Program was supported by more than 97% of the 688 participating school principals, who said that chaplains had been highly effective in providing pastoral care services for students and school communities. Does your Party commit to funding faith-based chaplaincy in schools beyond 2011, and at what level?

• Yes – Recent funding initiatives, supported by Family First, have seen almost 2,000 state schools provided with a chaplain.
• However, to date, about 65% of state schools still do not have access to a school chaplain. Given the vital role that school chaplains play in counselling and mentoring, Family First supports an increase in funding so that a chaplain is available to every school that requests one.

The former Federal Government, with Family First support, committed up to $165 million over three years to assist in the provision of chaplaincy services. As a result, there are now almost 2,000 state schools with a chaplain. Overwhelmingly, school principles support the chaplaincy program. However, to date about 65% of state schools still do not have access to a school chaplain. Given the vital role that school chaplains play in counselling and mentoring, Family First supports an increase in funding so that a chaplain is available to every school that requests one.

13. Youth unemployment

The national youth unemployment rate is 17% but in some locations it is over 40%. What policies will your Party implement to support and encourage young Australians to engage in active employment?

• The plight of youth unemployment in Australia is an area that Family First devotes much attention.
• Completing Year 12 provides a significant buffer against unemployment, and it has been estimated that early school leaving costs Australia $2.6 billion per year. 
• Further, a fall in recent years in apprenticeships and trade programs has been matched with a rise in youth unemployment. Family First will move aggressively to promote study and apprenticeship programs for youths to address this serious issue.

The plight of youth unemployment in Australia is an area that Family First devotes much attention.  Youth unemployment averages at 17% across the country, but in some sectors - such as for indigenous teenagers the rate is 45%. This is a serious concern because unemployment carries serious consequences. Young males not in employment have a mortality rate 8.6 times higher than counterparts who are in the workforce. Indicators of health, wellbeing, and economic prospects are dramatically downgraded when a youth is not in employment.

Research has shown that youth most at risk of unemployment are characterised by one or more of the following circumstances:  they have low levels of literacy and numeracy, are from non-English speaking backgrounds, have left school early, are from low socioeconomic backgrounds, are Indigenous, live with one or more unemployed persons and / or live in a rural or regional area.  Some of these factors can be addressed through Government programs, while some (such as location of residence) cannot be easily dealt with.

Completing Year 12 provides a significant buffer against unemployment, and it has been estimated that early school leaving costs Australia $2.6 billion per year. Further, a fall in recent years in apprenticeships and trade programs has been matched with a rise in youth unemployment. Family First will move aggressively to promote study and apprenticeship programs for youths to address this serious issue.

14. National curriculum

The national curriculum stresses teaching all subjects from indigenous, Asian and environmental perspectives, but the proposed history curriculum fails to acknowledge the significance of Australia’s Judeo-Christian heritage. What actions will your Party take to ensure a more balanced approach to the national curriculum, one that properly recognises Christianity’s historical and on-going contribution to Australia’s social, political and legal structures? What place, if any, should the Bible have in the national English curriculum, given its status as the most printed and translated literary work, and its obvious effect on the development of Western culture, literature and art?

• Family First recognises that Australia has a rich Christian heritage, and acknowledges the Christian foundations of our legal and parliamentary systems.
• It is more than appropriate that children in both public and private schools learn the historical background and story of the Bible.
• It is impossible to understand the history of our Western civilisation without a deep appreciation for the teachings of Christianity. For this reason, Family First supports the teaching of our Christian heritage in our schools.

Western society has become embarrassed about its Christian roots, but Family First recognises that Australia has a rich Christian heritage, and acknowledges the Christian foundations of our legal and parliamentary systems.

With over 2.5 billion copies in print, the Bible is the most circulated but possibly the least understood book in history. Bible concepts have been the foundation of works from Shakespeare, Milton, and Tolstoy to C.S. Lewis. Famous songwriters such as Elvis, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, U2, Johnny Cash, and Leonard Cohen have quoted the Bible in their songs. Hundreds of common sayings have their source in the Bible. Perhaps most importantly, the Bible is foundation for our legal and parliamentary systems. It is more than appropriate that children in both public and private schools learn the historical background of the great contribution our Christian heritage has made to Western Society.

It is impossible to understand the history of our Western civilisation without a deep appreciation for the teachings of Christianity. For this reason, Family First supports the teaching of our Christian heritage in our schools.

15. School funding

Given that many of the students attending low fee independent and Christian schools come from families of a similar socio-economic background as those of public schools, will your Party guarantee that any review of funding for the non-government school sector will result in no reduction in the level of funding in both real and relative terms for these schools?

• Yes – Family First strongly supports the Christian and independent school sector - as well as home schooling parents.
• Family First will work to ensure that there is no reduction in the level of funding in both real and relative terms for these schools.  

Family First strongly supports the Christian and independent school sector - as well as home schooling parents. Family First will work to ensure that there is no reduction in the level of funding in both real and relative terms for these schools. We support parental rights to choose schooling for their children that accords with their values, and support any measures (such as education vouchers) that work towards improving choice in education.

16. Marriage

Marriage is clearly defined in the Marriage Act as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life. Would your Party commit to support this definition for the life of the Government and beyond?

• Yes. Marriage is between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.
• Family First opposes homosexual marriage.
• In redefining families and who a child's parents are, radical legislation is putting long standing protections for children at risk.

Marriage is between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others. When this definition begins to break down, the family suffers. Recent models being considered in Parliaments around Australia include children having numerous parents and 'co-parents'.

For Family First the key question is not about the rights of the parents. Rather, before any issue of ‘parental choice’ or ‘rights’ are considered we believe the wellbeing of any child born into the new relationships being proposed today should be the paramount consideration. Article 7 of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child notes that every child has a right to know and be cared for by its parents. In redefining families and who a child's parents are, radical legislation is putting long-standing protections for children at risk.

17. Parenting

Now that a paid parental leave scheme has been legislated and will begin operation on 1 January 2011, what policies will your Party implement to redress the inequality in Government support experienced by women who work exclusively in the home?

• Family First opposed measures in the recent parental leave legislation that discriminated against 'stay at home' mums.
• Many parents wish to take an extended period off from work following the birth of a child, and this can benefit the child's development.
• Family First will continue to fight to end discrimination against stay at home mums in terms of financial benefits provided.

Family First opposed measures in the recent parental leave legislation that discriminated against 'stay at home' mums. Many parents wish to take an extended period off from work following the birth of a child, and this can benefit the child's development.  Family First will continue to fight to end discrimination against stay at home mums in terms of financial benefits provided.

18. Surrogacy and ART

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) intends to achieve uniform national surrogacy law. Some States allow surrogacy for single people and same-gender couples to obtain a child, who then has no possibility of having both a mother and a father. In constructing nationally consistent surrogacy laws, will your Party oppose any provision for single and same-gender surrogacy?

• Yes. Family First will oppose any provision for single and same-gender surrogacy.
• Family First considers the wellbeing of any child born as a consequence to surrogacy laws to be the paramount consideration. 
• In recent state Reproductive Technology legislation the Government attempted to change the law so that the rights of the child being born through IVF would be diminished. Family First lodged an amendment, which passed, successfully restoring this important children's right. 

In recent Parliamentary sessions, we have seen the rights of the child have been put under threat by those who see the 'right to have a child' as more important than the rights of that child to have both a mum and a dad.

For Family First the key question is not about the rights of the parents. Rather, before any issue of ‘parental choice’ or ‘rights’ are considered we believe the wellbeing of any child born as a consequence of any changes to legislation must be considered.

In recent South Australian Reproductive Technology legislation, the Government attempted to change the law so that the rights of the child being born through IVF would be diminished. Family First successfully restored this important children's right by amending the legislation.

Family First will continue to fight for the rights of the child on this issue and would oppose any provision for single and same-gender surrogacy.

19. Classification

There are a number of Codes of Practice across a range of media platforms, with some types of media self-regulated, others falling under the scope of the ACMA or the Classification Board. This multiplicity of media regulation is ill-equipped to keep pace with rapid technological changes, lacks effective enforcement mechanisms, and leaves children vulnerable to harm from inappropriate media products. Will your Party commit to a comprehensive review of Australia’s media regulatory environment, with a view to establish an effective classification system across all media, including advertising and games?

• Yes. Family First  will continue to work towards restriction of violent and pornographic material
• Family First commits to a comprehensive review of the media regulatory environment - provided that such a review has the objective of strengthening rather than weakening the classification framework.

Recent research from Iowa State University now conclusively shows the long term harm caused to children by violent and pornographic content as found in some R18+ video games and other material. Family First supports measures to continue the restriction of these titles, and will commit to a comprehensive review of the media regulatory environment - provided that such a review has the objective of strengthening rather than weakening the classification framework.

20. Internet safety

Recent Government trials have shown that blocking Refused Classification (RC) material at the ISP level is technically feasible. Will your Party commit to the filtering of RC material at the ISP level to provide a safer internet environment for children? Some ISPs already provide commercial filtering products for parents to protect children from legal but otherwise harmful internet content. What would your Party do to encourage wider availability of such services?

• Family First was one of the first groups to begin the campaign for tighter regulation of RC material.
• Family First recognises that parents need the option of filtering online content from their children that is objectionable, pornographic, or dangerous.
• Family First recognises that filtering of content is one element in a range of tools needed to protect children.

Family First was one of the first groups to begin the campaign on this issue, and we recognise that parents need the option of filtering online content from their children that is objectionable, pornographic or dangerous. Family First recognises that filtering of content is one element in a range of tools needed to protect children, and welcomes industry moves to voluntarily block certain RC content. However, it also recognises that it is not a complete solution. New technologies, including peer to peer networks which cannot be filtered, remain an ongoing challenge. Ultimately, parents must be responsible for monitoring their children's internet use and be provided with the tools and information required to do so. Family First would support programs to provide parents with the advice needed to properly monitor internet use that occurs in the family home.

21. Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted devastating effects of climate change on the global environment and population. At the same time a body of contrary scientific evidence is beginning to emerge in the debate. What is your Party’s position on climate change, and what are the policies it plans to implement on that basis, including for the world’s poorest?

• Family First is opposed to the current Commonwealth Emissions Trading bill.
• Family First does support increased investment and research into alternative energy generation.  

Family First is opposed to the current Commonwealth Emissions Trading bill, but does support increased investment and research into alternative energy generation. Australia should aim to be energy self sufficient, and it is unacceptable that Australia is dependent on much of its energy for transportation being sourced from countries that are politically unstable or hostile toward it.  Australia has the potential to develop new energy technologies such as geothermal energy that is both clean and would reduce our dependence on foreign energy.

22. Sharia law

In 2009 the Islamic Council of Victoria rebuffed an attempt by one of its board members to propose the establishment of a Sharia court to handle disputes in the Muslim community over divorce, child access, wills and the like. Would your party commit to opposing the adoption of a parallel Sharia Law legal system within Australia?

• Yes – It is inappropriate for two parallel legal systems to be operating in Australia.
• Family First would strongly oppose the introduction of a Sharia Law system, or any other parallel legal system in Australia. 

It is inappropriate for two parallel legal systems to be operating in Australia. Family First would strongly oppose the introduction of a Sharia Law system, or any other parallel legal system in Australia.

23. Human Rights Act

The National Human Rights Consultation recommended the enactment of a federal Human Rights Act. However many Christian churches and groups opposed a HRA because of little evidence of overseas versions improving human rights and their being used by activists to undermine freedom of religion. Given the time and expense of assessing Parliament’s present position on the HRA, will your Party rule out introducing a Human Rights Act or equivalent instrument in the next and subsequent parliament?

• Yes – Family First opposes a Bill or Charter of Rights because it gives power to unelected judges and Commissioners to make the law. 
• For these reasons, Family First has successfully blocked expansions of state Equal Opportunity Tribunals that would have (for example) allowed the Commissioner to launch investigations of Churches even when no complaint has been made. 

Family First opposes a Bill or Charter of Rights because it gives power to unelected judges and Commissioners to make the law.  Experience overseas, including the difficulties faced by the Church in the United Kingdom, shows that Bills or Charters of Rights are regularly used by activists to embarrass or attack Christian organisations. For these reasons, Family First has successfully blocked expansions of state Equal Opportunity Tribunals that would have (for example) allowed the Commissioner to launch investigations of Churches on even when no complaint has been made.

24. Indigenous welfare

Social justice for indigenous people remains a major issue for Christian churches. What initiatives and policies would your Party introduce to ensure not only better health, housing, education and employment opportunities for indigenous Australians, but also to facilitate long-term social inclusion and a sense of hope and purpose for the first Australians? What would your Party do during the next term of Parliament to specifically address these goals?

• Family First was the first party to have an Indigenous Australian as its Federal Leader (Andrea Mason).
• We take our commitment on Indigenous issues seriously.
• Most recently, Family First has been arguing for a stronger role in restricting illegal alcohol and drug smuggling onto the APY Lands.

Family First was the first party to have an Indigenous Australian as its Federal Leader (Andrea Mason). It takes its commitment to Indigenous issues seriously. Family First has a regular member on the state Aboriginal Lands Standing Committee, and in recent times, has been arguing for a stronger role in restricting illegal alcohol and drug smuggling onto the APY Lands.