Australian Christian Lobby

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is a conservative right-wing Christian advocacy organisation based in Canberra.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Australian Christian Lobby
Founded1995
Registration no.40 075 120 517[1] (ABN)
Location
Area served
Australia
Key people
Chairman, Jim Wallace AM
Acting Managing Director, Wendy Francis
Chairman Emeritus, Tony McLellan
Websitewww.acl.org.au

Structure

The ACL is registered as a public company limited by guarantee[8] and files political expenditure returns with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).[9] Funding comes mostly from individuals but names are not disclosed by the organisation.[10] It has no political affiliation and states it supports Christian values regarding faith.[10]

Eternity House, the Deakin, Australian Capital Territory, headquarters of ACL, is registered as a separate not-for-profit entity.[11]

Staff
Year Name Period Time in office
1995 John Gagliardi 1995–2000 5 years
2000 Jim Wallace 2000–2013 13 years
2013 Lyle Shelton 2013–2018 5 years
2018 Martyn Iles From 3 Feb 2018 to 24 Feb 2023 5 years
2023 Michelle Pearse[12] From May 2023

Jim Wallace was the managing director of ACL from 2000 to 2013.[13][14]

Lyle Shelton was managing director from 2013 to 2018.[15]

Martyn Iles was appointed managing director in 2018.[16] 3 The company has a self-appointed board of management – board members are invited to join by existing board members.[17] Board members are not elected by members.[18]

ACL is represented in each state with state directors operating out of each capital city. The Queensland state director is Wendy Francis and the Western Australian state director is Peter Abetz.

In 2018, Shelton resigned from his ACL position to re-enter party politics, joining Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives as federal communications director.[19]

In 2023, the Board terminated the contract of CEO Martyn Iles.[20]

Lobbying strategies

ACL activities include:

  • National, pre-election "Make it Count" events and other conferences/forums where Australian political leaders address individuals and groups sharing common views with the ACL
  • State-based, "Make it Count" events have been held in NSW,[31] Victoria,[32] Queensland,[33] Western Australia,[34][35] Tasmania,[36] Northern Territory[37] and the Australian Capital Territory.[38] These events are often webcast to a wider audience. For both federal and state elections, the ACL holds "Meet Your Candidate" forums, primarily in marginal seats, to give voters an opportunity to meet and question the people who are seeking their vote.[33]
  • Written and oral representations to federal and state/territory parliaments and their agencies[39]
  • Distribution of Viewpoint to Australian parliamentarians[40]
  • Release of media releases.[41]

History

The Australian Christian Coalition (ACC) was founded in 1995 by John Gagliardi,[42] a lay leader of a large Pentecostal church in Brisbane. Gagliardi had held journalistic positions as editor of the Townsville Bulletin and as a presenter for Channel 10 news.[43] Co-founders include John McNicoll, a retired Baptist minister turned lobbyist in Canberra, and John Miller, a Baptist who held lay leadership positions within his Canberra church.[44]

The organisation changed its name to the Australian Christian Lobby in March 2001.[1]

In September 2012, the then prime minister, Julia Gillard cancelled a speech to the ACL's annual conference after the organisation's managing director, Jim Wallace, argued that the health effects of homosexuality on individuals were worse than smoking.[45]

The Australian Christian Lobby has threatened to take the unprecedented step of campaigning against a Coalition government, warning Liberal MPs that it could direct members to support minor right-wing parties if they did not follow their policy of a people's vote.[46]

Attacks against ACL

In October 2014, ACL held a conference at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra which was followed by complaints to the hotel and a social media campaign directed against it. In response the hotel issued a statement saying that they "don't discriminate against guests who want to conduct lawful business at Hyatt hotels".[47] This subsequently "attracted considerable community support for the commercial rights of the Hyatt and threatened the free-speech credentials of the marriage-equality lobby".[48] In September 2016, a meeting at a Sydney hotel, planned by ACL to discuss same-sex marriage issues, had to be cancelled due to "threats of violence" to staff and guests. The 100 participants subsequently met at another venue.[49][50]

In December 2016, a van containing four 9 kg propane-gas bottles was set on fire beside the ACL building, which caused $100,000 damage[51] to ACL's empty offices. Following the incident ACL managing director Lyle Shelton stated that it had been an attack targeting the organisation due to its public advocacy.[52] During a Senate Estimates hearing in October 2017, the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Andrew Colvin, stated that the AFP and the Director of Public Prosecutions believed that the actions of the driver, Jayden Duong, were not politically or religiously motivated and his main motivation had been to commit suicide.[53] The assistant commissioner, Justine Saunders, the Chief Police Officer for the Australian Capital Territory, also stated that Duong had selected the ACL's car park to set off the explosion as it was isolated.[54]

Several people having an affiliation with ACL have had their employers targeted and have been attacked through social media. Those employers have included an accountancy firm,[55] a technology company,[56] an IT firm[57] and a university.[58] In March 2017, ACL was granted permission by The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission to keep their board members' names secret on the grounds of public safety, following abuse and threats.[59] In March 2017 the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, and Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, criticised the attacks by social media users directed against members of the ACL.[60]

On 9 May 2017, ACL hosted a seminar in Melbourne entitled "Is Safe Schools safe?", with the speakers John Whitehall, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Western Sydney,[61] and Elisabeth Taylor from ACL. About 30 people, several of whom had their faces covered with bandanas, blocked the entrance to the seminar stopping the majority of the attendees from entering.[62][63]

During the campaigning associated with the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, the ACL received threats and suspicious packages were sent to their office which necessitated the evacuation of 30 staff at the Canberra mail-centre. The Lobby's offices were also egged, and received letters containing glitter.[64][65][66]

Constituency and influence

One of the main criticisms of the ACL is that it overstates the constituency it represents.[18] Jim Wallace, one time managing director of the ACL, confirmed that the organisation represents its supporters only but stated that they also contact a group of representative theologians representing a number of denominations.[17]

While its claimed constituency is unproven, John Warhurst, emeritus professor of political science at the Australian National University said that ACL has been successful in establishing itself "in the top echelon of lobbying groups",[48] has the "professional knowledge to run modern election campaigns"[67] and "will not go away".[68] Warhurst notes that ACL as an evangelical lobby group is more politically influential than the Family First party.[69]

Academic assessments of the ACL's influence differ. Marion Maddox, a professor at Macquarie University, said in 2016 that ACL has achieved "remarkable influence with political leaders on both sides".[70] In contrast, Geoffrey Robinson, a senior lecturer at Deakin University, stated in 2015 that the ACL's influence had been decreasing since 2013 and the organisation had become only influential on the conservative side of politics.[71]

Former attorney-general Robert McClelland said in a speech to the ACL's 2012 conference that those protesting against the organisation would not have recognised that it had supported amendments to 84 pieces of commonwealth legislation that removed discrimination against same-sex couples.[72] In contrast, in 2012 the leader of the Australian Greens, Christine Milne, stated that the ACL's "whole focus is to attack the gay community" and as it is a private company with no affiliated churches, it was not suitable for the prime minister to attend its events.[45]

Some Christian leaders have stated the ACL's campaigning against gay rights does not represent the stance of all Christians, and several Christian Churches have stated they are frustrated and concerned about the ACL's actions on the issue.[73][74] In 2013 Professor Rodney Smith from Sydney University stated that while the ACL was supported by senior members of the Anglican, Orthodox and Catholic churches, many other members of the churches do not agree with the Lobby's positions.[75]

In 2016 the Australian Sex Party called for the ACL to be deregistered as a charity on the grounds that its main focus is political campaigning against same-sex marriage.[11]

The ACL has been described as extremist, possibly influenced by Christian dominionism and reconstructionism.[18][76] This is denied by the ACL.[77][78] LGBTIQ advocate Carl Katter has said that the aim of the group is to "facilitate and perpetuate hate".[79]

New campaign strategy

Martyn Iles said, "It used to be that our ACL leaders doing the lobbying could do a great deal. But these days, that’s not so much the case. Politicians want to know what difference their decisions will make in the electorate. They want to know where the votes are and whether there are 'activated' people who are going to do something about the issue."[80] Iles said he wants to transform ACL into a US-style conservative activist group that mimics the tactics of progressives, said the lobby group was using the election to test the effectiveness of its campaign. "The campaign itself is targeted, and the reason for that is we want to build ourselves into primarily a grassroots activist movement and, as we learn how to do that, we are running targeted campaigns to test what we are doing."[81][82]

During the 2019 Australian federal election, ACL supporters ran a campaign in which "Hundreds of thousands of leaflets, countless phone calls, and an extensive digital campaign went into seats like McMahon, Canning, Bass, Chisholm, Boothby and Petrie," according to Iles.[83]

Ancillary organisations

ACL has established the Lachlan Macquarie Institute,[84] as a training organisation for public policy influencers.[58]

ACL provided the seed-funding for, and works with, the Human Rights Law Alliance (HRLA). The HRLA focuses on what it says are freedoms neglected by the Australian Human Rights Commission, such as: 'freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of conscience and freedom of association'.[85]

ACL has established the Centre for Human Dignity[86] lead by Wendy Francis, which it describes as "an initiative" which is "against sexual exploitation".[87]

Focus of lobbying

Supports

ACL supports:

Opposes

ACL opposes:

See also

References
  1. Historical details for ABN: 40 075 120 517, Australian Business Register (historical details), retrieved 14 November 2011
  2. Warhurst, John (19 April 2017). "Australia's Christians form a broader political church that most realise". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. "Christianity and the LNP". Brisbane Times. 8 February 2012.
  4. Maddox, Marion (2014). "Right-wing Christian Intervention in a Naïve Polity". Political Theology. 15 (2): 132–150. doi:10.1179/1462317X13Z.00000000071. ISSN 1462-317X. S2CID 142175875.
  5. "Politics, Policy And Faith: The Christian Right in Australia" (PDF). politicsandreligionjournal.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2015.
  6. "Pilgrims' progress". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 January 2006.
  7. Tom Hyland (20 December 2009). "Political influence of Christian right 'overstated'". Sydney Morning Herald.
  8. Historical details for ABN: 40 075120517, ASIC, retrieved 15 November 2011
  9. Political Expenditure Return – 2009–10, AEC, retrieved 15 November 2011
  10. Josh Taylor (22 February 2016). "Money and mining men behind the shadowy Australian Christian Lobby". crikey.com.au. Crikey. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  11. Jeffery, Stephen (20 March 2016). "Australian Christian Lobby registers Eternity House building as a separate not-for-profit". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  12. Davenport, Tony (3 April 2023). "ACL Appoints Woman Chief Executive". Vision Christian Media. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  13. Sandeman, John (29 April 2013). "Changing the guard at the Christian lobby". Eternity Newspaper. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  14. Hatcher, Leigh (28 April 2013). "Jim and Lyle: Changing of the guard". Open House. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  15. "Our staff". Archived from the original on 6 December 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  16. "Martyn Iles new Managing Director for Australian Christian Lobby". Anglican Church League. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  17. The Australian Christian Lobby, ABC Radio National, 6 May 2008, retrieved 4 May 2013
  18. Martin McKenzie-Murray (2 July 2016). "The Australian Christian Lobby's bid for influence". The Saturday Paper. Schwartz Media. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  19. Gomes, Luke Henriques (4 February 2018). "Lyle Shelton takes job at Cory Bernardi's party". The New Daily. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  20. Segaert, Anthony (24 February 2023). "Australian Christian Lobby ditches managing director". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  21. Transcript – Australian Conference (PDF), 2007, archived from the original on 31 August 2007, retrieved 24 October 2011 – via National Library of Australia{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. "Turnbull to address Christian concerns". Christian Today. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  23. Here God is anything but dead, SMH, 22 June 2010, retrieved 23 October 2010
  24. Zwartz, Barney (6 August 2010), Gillard bid to win back Christians, The Age, archived from the original on 19 August 2010, retrieved 18 August 2012{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  25. Karvelas, Patricia (30 October 2014). "Bill Shorten's description of Christians 'wide of the mark'". The Australian. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  26. "Scott Morrison tells Australian Christian Lobby budget will focus on tax and jobs". The Guardian. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  27. "Christians commiserate after same-sex marriage vote loss". The Australian. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  28. YouTube, a Google company. YouTube.
  29. "Cory Bernardi and Matt Canavan rally 'No' voters at ACL conference with calls to fight on". The New Daily. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  30. YouTube, a Google company. YouTube.
  31. Nicholls, Sean (4 March 2015). "Mike Baird's emotional public moment during election policy forum". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  32. Christian lobby wins first political debate, ABC, 24 September 2011, retrieved 24 February 2017
  33. Christian 'Meet Your Candidate' Forum in key Brisbane Seats, Christian Today, 18 March 2009, retrieved 24 February 2017
  34. Laschon, Eliza (24 February 2017). "WA election: Euthanasia, Safe Schools hot topics as Liberal, Labor leaders face Christian voters". ABC News. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  35. "Leaders quizzed by church leaders on gay marriage, euthanasia and same-sex marriage". Perth Now. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  36. 'Make it Count Tasmania': Premier and Opposition Leader to address Christian voters, Christian Today, 2 February 2010, retrieved 24 February 2017
  37. Guy, Russell (13 August 2012), Real Action in the wrong direction?, Alice Springs News, retrieved 24 February 2017
  38. "Christians 'disappointed' Stanhope will miss debate", The Canberra Times, 11 September 2008, retrieved 24 February 2017
  39. "Submissions". The Australian Christian Lobby. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  40. Viewpoint, Viewpoint, retrieved 14 June 2012
  41. Media Releases, ACL, retrieved 15 November 2011
  42. "News Store". 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  43. Sharpe, Brad (25 January 2001). "Business of God". Gold Coast Bulletin. Australia. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  44. Ranganul, Amber (January 2009). "Religiously inspired political activism: A historical and comparative study" (PDF). School of Humanities, Griffith University. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  45. Cullen, Simon (6 September 2012). "Gillard pulls out of Christian Lobby speech in gay marriage row". ABC News. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  46. Christians to target Coalition The Australian (subscription required)
  47. "Hyatt Hotel defends booking for Australian Christian Lobby's anti-gay marriage conference". Canberra Times. 21 October 2014.
  48. Warhurst, John (29 October 2014). "Pressure groups and the lessons political leaders should learn". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  49. "Christian 'no' campaign event forced to fold". Sky News. 17 September 2016. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  50. Crowe, David (17 September 2016). "Same-sex marriage event off: threats to hotel staff". The Australian. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  51. Crawford, Sarah (16 August 2017). "Man who attempted suicide by blowing up his van outside Australian Christian Lobby HQ said he 'disliked' the group". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  52. Hunter, Fergus (22 December 2016). "Australian Christian Lobby van attack: Lyle Shelton links explosion to 'extreme left' MPs". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  53. Lewis, Rosie (25 October 2017). "Christian lobby 'not first target' for car bombing". The Australian. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  54. Koziol, Michael (24 October 2017). "'Uncomfortable' top cop rejects Liberal senators' claims over Australian Christian Lobby car bombing". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  55. Morton, Rick (15 March 2017). "PricewaterhouseCoopers can count on same-sex cause". The Australian. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  56. Urban, Rebecca (23 March 2017). "IBM refuses to back Christian executive". The Australian. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  57. Urban, Rebecca (6 May 2017). "Christians under siege, religious freedom inquiry hears". The Australian. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  58. Higgins, Ean (29 March 2017). "Gay rights activist slams Christian academic". The Australian. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  59. Sahnahan, Dennis (28 March 2017). "Safety fears at Christian charities". The Australian. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  60. King, Simon (29 March 2017). "Christian leaders slam 'appalling and unAustralian' gay activists". The Australian. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  61. "Professor John Whitehall". University of Western Sydney. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  62. Hore, Monique (9 May 2017). "Protesters promise to shut down Australian Christian Lobby event against Safe Schools program". Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  63. Akerman, Tessa (9 May 2017). "Safe Schools protest targets Arrow on Swanston hotel". The Australian. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  64. Graham, Chris (25 August 2017). "If You Mail The Australian Christian Lobby An Envelope Full of Glitter, They'll Pay For the Stamp!". New Matilda. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  65. "Suspicious packages addressed to Australian Christian Lobby cause mail centre evacuation". ABC News. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  66. McDonough, Keely (25 August 2017). "Packages containing white powder were on way to Australian Christian Lobby". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  67. Warhurst, John (11 May 2016). "Religion will play a role in 2016 federal election". The Age. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  68. "The Australian Christian Lobby will not go away". Eureka Street. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  69. Warhurst, John (2006). "Religion in 21 st Century Australian National Politics" (PDF). Papers on Parliament. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. The Senate. 46: 61–80. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  70. Ireland, Judith (19 February 2016). "Who are the Australian Christian Lobby?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  71. Robinson, Geoffrey (14 June 2016). "Australian Christian Lobby: the rise and fall of the religious right". The Conversation. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  72. "Nasty debate 'un-Australian': McClelland", Brisbane Times, 6 October 2012, retrieved 23 October 2016
  73. "Christian Lobby analysis reveals strong gay focus". Brisbane Times. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  74. "PM shrugs off Obama's gay marriage support". WAtoday. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  75. Lloyd, Peter (22 May 2013). "How powerful is the Australian Christian Lobby?". PM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  76. Stevenson, Chrys (23 September 2011). "Is the Australian Christian Lobby Dominionist?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  77. Benson, Rod (19 September 2011), "Faith and Politics: Dismantling Stevenson's Dominionist Conspiracy", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 25 October 2011
  78. Wallace, Jim (23 September 2011), "Exposing Chrys Stevenson's Blind Faith", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 25 October 2011
  79. "This man runs a political group obsessed with gay-hate". Mamamia. 7 September 2012.
  80. Payne, Kaley (3 May 2019). "Australian Christian Lobby seeks to empower its grassroots". Eternity News.
  81. "Christian lobby targets key conservative seats in test of US-style campaign activism". The Guardian. 10 May 2019.
  82. Inglis, Rob (11 May 2019). "Bass a focus of 'highly targeted' Australian Christian Lobby campaign". The Examiner.
  83. Sandyman, John (22 May 2019). "Christians and the low paid won it for Morrison - ANU professor". Eternity News.
  84. "LMI – Wise Leaders". Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  85. Merritt, Chris (2 September 2017). "Human Rights Law Alliance formed to fight for essential freedoms". The Australian. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  86. "Centre For Human Dignity - United Against Sexual Exploitation". Australian Christian Lobby. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  87. "Centre for Human Dignity". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  88. "Marriage Amendment Act 2004". comlaw.gov.au.
  89. Devine, Miranda (13 August 2017). "Gay marriage lobby holds the aces, but the silent majority is stirring". Daily Telegraph.
  90. Patrick Parkinson with Antoine Kazzi, (2011), For Kids' Sake: Repairing the Social Environment for Australian Children and Young People, Vos Foundation, commissioned by the Australian Christian Lobby ISBN 978-1-74210-241-2
  91. Falling marriage rates hurting children: report, Melbourne: The Age, 6 September 2011, retrieved 27 October 2011
  92. Lane Sainty, (14 September 2017), Parents Should Be Able To Send Their Kids To Gay Conversion Therapy, Says Leading "No" Campaigner: "If someone's a minor, it is up to their parents.", BuzzFeed News, Australia. Retrieved 17 September 2017
  93. Submission No. 67 from the Human Rights Law Alliance and Australian Christian Lobby to the Australian Senate Select Committee on The Exposure Draft Of The Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill.. Retrieved 17 September 2017 Under Recommendation 14 (page 12) they stated,
    Cause for concern already exists in the Labor party’s national platform as amended at the 2015 National Conference. The platform states that Labor will make it unlawful for certain discouragements of homosexual behaviour by parents in their children. Such action may be deemed "serious psychological abuse" and "domestic violence." (Resolution 202R, ALP National Conference 2015.)
  94. "This Christian Lobby Group Is Fighting A Proposal To Ban Gay Conversion Therapy". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  95. Nielson, Les; Magarey, Kirsty (17 September 2009). "Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—Superannuation) Bill 2008". Australian Parliament House. p. 9. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  96. Cauchi, Stephen (24 June 2012). "Call for strict line on R18+ games". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  97. "Christian lobby wants Hitler sniper game banned". news.com. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  98. Allen, Danny (9 August 2011). "Australian Census: A Vote For Jedi Is A Vote For Jim Wallace". Gizmodo. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  99. Ray, Jeremy (9 December 2010). "Australian Christian Lobby ... I disown thee". The Punch. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  100. Polites, Harrison (12 July 2013). "Why R18+ ratings are still a losing game". Business Spectator. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  101. ACL Confirms Porn Filter Stance – Christianity Today, retrieved 1 April 2009
  102. "Christians upset at Conroy's net policy 'backtrack'", The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 May 2009, archived from the original on 15 June 2009, retrieved 3 July 2009
  103. Fran Foo (20 July 2010), "Concern at lobby group's influence as Christians get filter plan tip-off", The Australian, retrieved 20 July 2010
  104. Coorey, Phillip (10 November 2012). "Opposition welcomes dumping of Labor's internet filter scheme". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  105. Canning, Simon (1 June 2011). "AdShel backtracks on billboard ban". The Australian. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  106. "Australia's most complained about ad Rip & Roll safe sex campaign returns". News Ltd. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  107. Simonot, Suzanne (28 April 2016). "Offensive Wicked campervans not welcome at Gold Coast music festival Splendour in the Grass". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  108. "Volley hits back at Australian Christian Lobby's 'homophobic' response to ad campaign". News Ltd. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  109. "Bestiality billboard pulled after outrage". Yahoo. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  110. "'Christian lobby urges fines for bestiality billboard". ABC. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  111. "Wendy Francis on the giant pink condom on Hyde Park Obelisk". News Ltd. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  112. Dunlevie, James (20 April 2017). "MONA's David Walsh defends 'slaughter' art show, says public outrage good for business, Tas economy". ABC. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  113. "Tony Jones talks to Jim Wallace from the Australian Christian Lobby". ABC. 10 August 2007.
  114. Bianca Hall (11 May 2012). "Coalition won't keep aid commitment". SMH. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  115. Martyn Iles (25 June 2019). "ACL Donates $100,000 to Israel Folau, Launches Alternative Fundraising Site". Australian Christian Lobby. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  116. "Israel Folau: Australian Christian lobby hosts new fundraising effort". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  117. "'Pause button' hit after Folau's Christian Lobby fund passes $2m mark". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  118. "A message from Izzy following his settlement with Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby". YouTube. 3 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  119. Australia must pressure Egyptian Government to protect Christians, ACL says, Australian Conservative, 18 August 2011, archived from the original on 25 April 2012, retrieved 18 November 2011
  120. Devine, Miranda (16 October 2016). "The Left's bigotry and hypocrisy toward Catholics and Christians is alive and well". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  121. Lisa Cox (22 August 2012), "Christian lobby takes govt to task", The Canberra Times, archived from the original on 10 July 2014, retrieved 1 October 2012{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  122. "Interrogation of Jakarta Governor Ahok for blasphemy will bring fear to Christians, ACL warns". Christian Today. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  123. Adams, David (3 April 2017). "Australian Christian Lobby renews calls for motion declaring Islamic State's persecution of Christians and other religious minorities 'genocide'". Sight Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  124. Adams, David (3 April 2017). "Australian Christian Lobby renews calls for motion declaring Islamic State's persecution of Christians and other religious minorities 'genocide'". Sight Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  125. "Christian Lobby Welcomes Increased Aid for Refugees". Christian Today. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  126. Owens, Jared (13 August 2015). "Time for Australian airstrikes on IS in Syria says Lib MP Dan Tehan". The Australian. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  127. Shanahan, Dennis; Martin, Sarah (24 November 2015). "Christian churches welcome focus on taking in refugee minorities". The Australian. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  128. Jim Wallace (31 May 2012). "The lobbyist's view: Secularising school chaplaincy". Sight Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  129. Abortion survivor joins debate, Melbourne: The Age, 31 August 2008, retrieved 27 October 2011
  130. Peatling, Stephanie (14 March 2017). "Australian Christian Lobby urges Turnbull government to copy Donald Trump's foreign aid abortion ban". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  131. Preiss, Benjamin (19 August 2015). "Sex Party calls for buffer zones around abortion clinics". The Age. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  132. Ogilvie, Felicity (22 November 2013). "Protests banned outside Tas abortion clinics". ABC News. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  133. Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee's Inquiry into the Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal) Bill 2008 (PDF), APH, March 2009, retrieved 23 October 2011
  134. Smith, Matt (13 March 2013). "Euthanasia laws spark debate". The Mercury. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  135. Mounster, Bruce (17 February 2012), Nitschke visit stirs debate, The Mercury, archived from the original on 4 August 2012, retrieved 17 November 2016{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  136. Kelly, Joe (11 August 2016). "Andrew Denton tells church to get out of euthanasia debate". The Australian. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  137. "Euthanasia bill fails in SA by one vote". SBS. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  138. "Australian Medical Association stance on euthanasia reinforces need to reject assisted suicide, says ACL". Christian Today. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  139. "Australian Christian Lobby's Peter Abetz voices opposition to surrogacy". 16 January 2018.
  140. David Marr (12 February 2011), "'Appalling' law lets schools expel gay students", The Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved 13 February 2011
  141. "CHAPTER 3– Parliament of Australia". Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  142. Amended in 2004 by the Howard Government, it reads, 'marriage means the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.'
  143. Whitbourn, Michaela (8 March 2015). "Backlash after anti-marriage equality ad debuts on Mardi Gras night". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  144. Taylor, David (16 February 2016). "Same-sex marriage plebiscite: Christian lobby group wants 'override' of anti-discrimination laws during campaign". ABC News. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  145. Support for the Catholic Archbishop of Hobart, Julian Porteous, who was required to answer to an Anti-Discrimination Commission after distributing booklets supporting "traditional" marriage stating that those laws will have to change to allow people to freely express opposition to same-sex marriage in any future plebiscite whilst those advocating for same-sex marriage stating it is an unreasonable request.
  146. "Hobart archbishop's defence moves same-sex marriage advocate". The Catholic Leader. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  147. "Media Release: ACT Civil Union Bill deliberately undermines Federal marriage laws, (29 March 2006), Australian Christian Lobby". Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  148. "Christian group condemns two dads couple". Australia. Bulletin Wire. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  149. "Two-dads decision opens the floodgate". Sydney, Australia. The Daily Telegraph. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  150. Inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012–Submission 21, page 13, Australian Parliament House, retrieved 11 December 2012
  151. "Christian lobby group urges MPs to reject adoption bill". News Ltd. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2015. Heterosexual couples who can provide a more complete family environment are already spending years on NSW waiting lists in the hope of adopting a child, with many missing out
  152. Australian Christian Lobby (February 2009). "Inquiry into adoption by same sex couples: Submission 185" (PDF). NSW Parliament. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  153. Tomazin, Farrah (29 March 2015). "Christian group asks Victorian government for right to discriminate on gay adoption". The Age. Retrieved 14 August 2015. To ask for a religious exemption that would give faith-based organisations the right to choose couples in accordance with their ethos. The group has also called for parents whose children are being adopted to have the ability to choose a straight family.
  154. "Anger over same sex adoption change". ABC News. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2015. State director Mark Brown says it overlooks the rights of children.
  155. Gordon, Josh (13 November 2015). "Conservatives force religious exemptions into same-sex adoption laws". The Age. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  156. Leighton-Dore, Samuel (31 October 2016). "The ACL furious over "sexually degrading concepts"". SameSame. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  157. Tomazin, Farrah (23 October 2016). "Andrews faces Christian Lobby showdown over sexual classroom videos". The Age. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  158. Tomazin, Farrah (17 December 2016). "Safe Schools program to be overhauled and founder Roz Ward removed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  159. "Christian lobby groups claim 'radical sexual experimentation' is being promoted in schools". News Ltd. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  160. Cook Herietta (28 July 2015). "Safe Schools program ordered to stay silent on gay marriage". The Age. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  161. "ACL says school anti-bullying program 'encouraging cross dressing'". Brisbane Times. 28 July 2015.
  162. "Christian lobby boycotts gay student program". The Age. 19 December 2014.
  163. "Submission to the Senate Economic References Committee on the Inquiry into Third Party Certification of Food: Submission No. 1395". Senate Standing Committees on Economics, Third party certification of food. July 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  164. The 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 assist in, 'say(ing) 'no more' to the $12 billion pokies industry and the dreadful harm they inflict on hundreds of thousand of Australians'
  165. Richard Willingham (29 February 2012). "Wilkie threat to vote against 'weak' pokie reform bill". SMH. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  166. Wilkie insists poker machine deal still holds, ABC, 18 January 2012, retrieved 19 January 2012
  167. Beniuk, David (29 January 2017). "Federal Group, ACL and Walsh gambling on parliamentary hearings". The Mercury. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  168. Adams, David (20 April 2017). "Laws banning gambling advertising in Australia during live sporting events a "welcome first step", says Australian Christian Lobby". Sight Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  169. Bianca Hall (13 January 2012), "Sex in the ACT: Part II", The Canberra Times, retrieved 19 January 2012
  170. "Inquiry into the Prostitution Act 1992" (PDF). ACT Legislative Assembly–Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety. February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012.
  171. Gilmore, Jane (13 April 2016). "We need a less polarising debate about sex work laws". Daily Life. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  172. Adams, David (21 March 2017). "Australian Christian Lobby again urges state governments to adopt 'Nordic approach' to prostitution in light of Scottish support". Sight Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  173. Johnson, Carol; Maddox, Marrion. "Talk of same-sex marriage impinging on religious freedom is misconceived: here's why". The Conversation. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.