From a Netfriend:

Dear Friends,

Many will have been informed of new laws regarding the above. A resume can be found on the front page of today’s Courier-Mail. I have attached the full article, apart from the resume, which is below.

Among the mooted changes are the following:

- Non-Government schools will no longer be able to refuse to employ homosexual people.

- The legislation will redefine “spouse”, giving same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.

- It will give long-term homosexual partners the right to access state superannuation funds and unpaid worker entitlements.

- It will extend anti-vilification laws to include sexuality and gender identification.

_ It will amend the definition of religion to ensure atheists are not discriminated against.

- “Allow doctors to still refuse IVF treatment to lesbians and single women.”

- “Ensure mothers can breast-feed children anywhere.”

- “Ensure employers do not treat unfavourably people looking after aged parents.”

As you can see, the legislation attempts to identify homosexual couples as “family”. The only step remaining is to declare homosexual marriage legal. Both these steps undermine marriage and family, adding further to the break-up of the God-ordained family unit. The stats show that the social cost of family dissolution is already too high.

It is important for us to realize that the law treats homosexual people more than equally under the law already. This legislation is an attempt to give a minority group veto power over the rights of others in the area of religion & education, and also further restricts the freedom of employers to choose their workers. (If the “gender quota” system mooted by some political parties is any indication, we may soon see laws which force employers to do likewise, and on a wider scale too.)

The anti-vilification aspect of the law is also cause for concern. It may mean that to speak of the homosexual lifestyle in a negative way will be cause for offence, and to speak of atheism likewise. If the Victorian case between the Islamic Council of Victoria and the Christian pastors is any indication, anti-vilification laws have the potential to so restrict freedom of speech, that soon, nothing may be able to be spoken publicly without government sanction.

Contact your local member now, asking why was this legislation introduced without community consultation, and whether he/she supports it.

This type of legislation was recently passed into NSW law. Read what Fred Nile has to say about it:

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 5 September 2002

ALP Government legalises homosexual “spouse”

The Rev Fred Nile MLC, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has condemned the Carr ALP Government for inserting the illogical misleading concept of a same-sex “spouse” in 25 Acts of Parliament by its Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Relationships) Bill on Wednesday 4th September 2002.

In spite of strong opposition led by the Anglican and Catholic Churches the Rev Fred Nile’s Amendments to restrict the use of the term “spouse” to persons of the opposite sex were defeated by 21 to 15 votes in the NSW Upper House.

The ALP, Greens, Australian Democrats, Mr Breen, Mr Richard Jones and Dr Wong voted against Mr Nile’s amendments.

Mr Nile stated, “The term spouse cannot apply to same sex homosexual or lesbian couples as the word `spouse’ has for thousands of years always meant `bride’ and `bridegroom’.”

Mr Nile opposed this backdoor method of gradually introducing legal homosexual marriages into Australian law. Especially as the leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Brian Greig, has already moved such a Bill into the Federal Senate.

Mr Nile said, ” I urge the public to express their opposition to these proposals and abuse of the sacred term `spouse’ which further undermines the God given institution of marriage.” END

Contact: Rev Fred Nile MLC 02 9230 2132 or 02 9751 1949

(Legislative Council Hansard excerpt available at http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au on 3 & 4 September 2002)

___________________________________________

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 5 September 2002

ALP opposes protection of heterosexuals in NSW

The Carr ALP Government has today announced it will vote in the NSW Upper House against the Christian Democratic Party Bill, which would give the heterosexuals of NSW legal protection from discrimination under the Anti Discrimination Act.

Even the proposed Liberal amendment to change the word “heterosexual” to the word “sexuality” which would protect all persons from discrimination including heterosexuals will be rejected by the ALP Government.

“It is a tragedy that everyone has protection in NSW – homosexuals, transsexuals, etc., except heterosexuals.”

“Other States already protect the rights of heterosexuals, but not NSW!” said Rev Fred Nile MLC. END

Contact: Rev Fred Nile MLC 02 9230 2132 or 02 9751 1949

MEDIA RELEASE 18th February 2002

`GAY’ FAMILIES HAVE MORE PROBLEMS

“The ‘summary of international research’ on homosexual and lesbian parenting, commissioned by the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, is propaganda rather than science,” Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC said today.

“Much of this so-called ‘research’ is based on volunteer surveys and anecdotes reported by lesbian and homosexual parents themselves. This type of study is not part of the scientific method.

“US researchers Dr Nagai and Dr Lerner recently reviewed 50 studies on homosexual parenting conducted over the past 20 years – no doubt the same ones summarised for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Lobby this month. Nagai and Lerner found at least one major research flaw in every study. They concluded that the studies do not provide a basis for good science or good public policy.

“Valid research in this area is hard to find, ” Mr Nile said. “However one study with correct methodology – from Australia – does not appear to be cited in Gay and Lesbian Lobby’s summary.

“Professor Sarantakos of Charles Sturt University carefully matched families with three types of parents – married heterosexual, cohabiting heterosexual and homosexual /lesbian. Their primary school aged children were independently assessed on criteria including school academic performance, social and sporting skills, and parental support.

“In most areas, children with heterosexual married parents did best, followed by those with heterosexual cohabiting parents. Children who lived with homosexual couple parents generally fared worst. (Refer attached Resource Paper, Light, May 2001).

“This study was published in a peer-reviewed journal, ‘Children Australia’, in 1996. Its results are not surprising, given that homosexual and lesbian relationships tend to be more unstable and suffer from more domestic violence and drug abuse than heterosexual marriage.

“On the whole, research shows that children do best when raised by a mother and father who are committed through marriage to each other and their children,” Mr Nile said. End.

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