Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 11:28, 7 June 2012

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is a Christian political lobby group having a head office in Canberra and branches in six Australian states and territories. Its motto is "Voice for values". Its managing director is Jim Wallace AM.

The Australian Christian Lobby has three main functions. Supporting politicians who uphold Christian values, lobbying and thirdly informing, educating and activating Christians.

Origin

Three men from different denominational affiliations and backgrounds founded the Australian Christian Coalition (ACC) in 1995. At the time of the founding, two of them resided in Canberra and one in Brisbane. The lobby group was the brainchild of John Gagliardi, a lay leader of a large Pentecostal church in Brisbane, who stated that the vision was to create an organisation that would have influence in the political arena, on behalf of all Christians, no matter what denomination. Gagliardi’s background was in journalism, and he held positions as Editor of the Townsville Bulletin and as anchorman for the Channel 10 news. John McNicoll was a retired Baptist Minister turned lobbyist in Canberra before becoming involved in the Australian Christian Coalition. John Miller, who worked with a number of community and government organisations and held leadership positions within his independent, community-based church.

The name of the organisation was changed to the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) in March 2001. The ACL has been described as already having "made its influence felt on a state and national level" at this stage.

Aim

According to the ACL's website, "The vision of the Australian Christian Lobby is to see Christian principles and ethics accepted and influencing the way we are governed, do business and relate to each other as a community. The ACL aims to foster a more compassionate, just and moral society by seeking to have the positive public contributions of the Christian faith reflected in the political life of the nation." As an example of supporting politicians who uphold Christian values, Jim Wallace has twice organised meetings between leaders of 20 major Christian churches and Prime Ministers.

The ACL also operates the 'Make A Stand' website which the ACL claims "is a service provided to assist the Australian public to respond to political issues in a timely and effective manner."

Organisation

The Australian Christian Lobby is an Australian Public Company, Limited By Guarantee, registered (having an ABN 40 075 120 517) with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).

ACL files political expenditure returns with Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

Details regarding the Australian Christian Lobby’s Board and the ACL Staff are available. ACL issues publications such as the magazine, "Viewpoint" which is provided to each Parliamentarian in Australia free of charge. It provides Media Releases and it communicates with its supporters via emailed newsletters.

Further information on the ACL organisation is available from its Annual Report.

Some current issues on which ACL lobbies

Issues relating to family

In September 2011, during Child Protection Week, ACL released a report, For Kids’ Sake, in response to increasing levels of abuse, neglect and self harm surrounding children, for which it is claimed sliding marriage rates are partly to blame.

While Australia does have established protocols for the classification of films, computer games, publications and music and for advertising standards this remains unresolved for outdoor advertising with one example showing, "a naked couple provocatively entwined next to a packet of condoms . . (in) proximity to a Catholic primary school". Australia's Prime Minister says, regarding this type of billboard they, "cause me to worry". Responding to a proposed regulatory change in the United Kingdom where, "billboard images of scantily clad models are to be banned in a bid to prevent the sexualisation of children", a televised debate was held between Fiona Patten of the Australian Sex Party and Wendy Francis of ACL.

ACL advocacy for the homeless has included a submission to the New South Wales Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into homelessness and low-cost rental accommodation. ACL has consistently supported marriage as, "the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life". In 2004, ACL jointly organised the National Marriage Forum to support this amendment to the Marriage Act and the Family Law Act. The current Australian Prime Minister has said, under her government "the Marriage Act will remain unchanged". ACL continues to advocate for marriage, as defined in the Marriage Amendment Act 2004. Prime Minister Julia Gillard reiterated in May 2012 that she will continue to oppose gay marriage.

In May 2012 Jim Wallace appeared before the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee regarding the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010. ACL made two written submissions to the committee. Mr Wallace presented to the committee the Australian Christian Lobby's position. Within his submission he noted that, "it is simply incongruous that homosexuality and heterosexuality be treated as equal, because they are so clearly different".

In 2011 a document on marriage was prepared by the Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian Churches, under the auspices of the Australian Christian Lobby. The document was endorsed by 50 of the national church leaders from the Anglican, Catholic, Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, Lutheran, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist Church and Uniting Church.

"The leaders note that the law has adapted in many ways to accommodate relationships other than marriage including making provisions for persons in de facto and same sex relationships to have access to the same services that are available to married couples. However, marriage remains different and the legal recognition of marriage is needed for the purpose of securing that relationship and the children’s relationship within the family unit to both a mother and a father".

— Part of the document endorsed by the 50 national church leaders

The NSW Council of Churches, representing the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT, the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, the Churches of Christ in NSW, the Fellowship of Congregational Churches (NSW), the Presbyterian Church of Australia (NSW), and The Salvation Army (Eastern Territory), supports both the ACL's position on marriage and the Australian Christian Lobby.

At a Senate hearing, Jim Wallace was asked to respond to a statement that the Victorian Council of Churches are "distancing themselves from your organisation's comments". He said within the membership of the Victorian Council of Churches, "a great majority, I would not claim 100 per cent, but certainly it would be the great majority," do support ACL's position on marriage.

Katrina Fox, a journalist, has stated it makes more sense to an expand the "definition of marriage to include a range of relationship models" than to just legalise gay marriage. Expansions currently being advocated in Australia include polygamy and polyamory. During a Senate Inquiry, where the possibility of polygamy was raised, Jim Wallace noted that former High Court Justice Michael Kirby said, “The question that is before the parliament at the moment is the question of equality for homosexual people. There may be, in some future time, some other question. The lesson in courts and in the parliament, I suggest, is that you take matters step by step.”

Jim Wallace has noted that The Greens claim that "love is love" and advocate "marriage equality", but inconsistently reject polygamous love and polygamous marriage.

The Australian Christian Lobby has congratulated ACT Greens Party Convener, Meredith Hunter, on moves to introduce a voluntary code of conduct for retailers to help combat the sexualisation of children.

Issues relating to life

ACL is opposed to abortion and works for the repeal of legislation that sanctions abortion on demand. ACL jointly organised a March for the Babies to commemorate the second anniversary of the passing of Victoria’s abortion laws which allow abortion up until birth for any reason. ACL has also sponsored Gianna Jessen, an 'abortion survivor' to come to Australia to talk about her experiences.

Following what the ACL described as a "heart-wrenching story" about a sperm donor being removed from his child’s birth certificate, the ACL lobbied to have biological details included on birth certificates.

ACL has highlighted how some legal Australian brothels have ties to human trafficking and sex slavery. ACL has also submitted that, "many of those who 'choose' prostitution do so out of financial desperation, drug dependency or due to coercion... regardless of the reasons for choosing it, the choice is one that will be harmful to a woman's physical and mental health, and detrimental to communities".

Following the death of a 17 year old girl from a drug overdose in a legal Canberra brothel in 2008, an ACT Legislative Assembly Inquiry has recommended 17 new policies on prostitution, including tougher penalties for employing underage people in brothels, removing the need for sole-operating prostitutes to have to register with the Office of Regulatory Services and recommending that more than one sole operator can operate in one place. ACL expressed amazement that the Inquiry "recommended more prostitution, with less controls", with the ACL's Mr Wallace noting, "an inherently dangerous occupation ... put ... on the same level as selling fries at McDonalds.” ACL is also screening around Australia the documentary Nefarious: Merchant of Souls which investigates the global sex trade and its links to legal brothels.

ACL has campaigned on a number of occasions in response to moves to legalise euthanasia by various territory, state and federal jurisdictions with one concern being the, "cheapening of human life by the promotion of suicide options ... where healthy people could end their lives for comparatively trivial reasons".

Issues relating to poverty and justice

ACL Chief of Staff Lyle Shelton states that poker machines are "causing incredible hardship to children and to families right across this nation and needs to be tackled". In an effort to minimise harm associated with poker machines, the ACL has supported a trial for mandatory pre-commitment scheme. Further, 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".

ACL has worked with Micah Challenge to Make Poverty History and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on halving global poverty by 2012. In May 2012, Jim Wallace, said: "That we have both major parties abandoning their commitment to the world's poorest is a sad commentary on the level of both integrity and compassion in a Parliament Australians are increasingly losing confidence in." In regards to refugees, the Australian Christian Lobby called for all parties to stop playing politics and to co-operate on a solution.

"ACL supports the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the preamble of the Constitution".

Regarding persecution of Christians in Egypt, the ACL has called on the Federal Government to pressure Egypt to protect religious minorities such as the Copts.

Issues relating to youth and education

ACL has established a training program for young people with the target group being 18 to 26 years. The Compass program was a "joint-initiative between ACL and the Compass foundation, which is based in New Zealand”. The program includes mentoring and coaching. ACL has provided input into the formulation of the proposed Australian National Curriculum. ACL lobbied against proposal to replace the terms Before Christ (BC) and Anno Domini (AD) with Before the Common Era (BCE) and Common Era (CE). That proposal was subsequently dropped.

In response to a reversal in direction of the Federal Government in relation to a promised policy for school chaplains, Jim Wallace noted that "It’s not that schools shouldn't have secular student welfare workers but this should not have come from the pool of money promised to the National School Chaplaincy Program during the 2010 election campaign."

ACL hosted the Make It Count event on 21 June 2010, where then-Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott spoke about their positions on a range of issues affecting Christians. Prominent Christian leaders of major denominations attended the Make It Count event. Prior to the Australian 2007 federal election, ACL hosted a Make It Count event with the then Prime Minister John Howard and the then Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd.

Prior to State Government elections ACL also hosts Make It Count events giving the major party leaders an opportunity to provide information on their vision for the State and how they propose to engage with the Christian constituency. Church leaders and others in the audience can also ask questions. State-based Make It Count events have been held in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. These events are usually webcast to a wider audience. For both Federal and State elections, the Australian Christian Lobby also holds Meet Your Candidate Forums, primarily in marginal seats, to give voters the opportunity to meet and question the people who are seeking their vote.

Issues relating to 'freedoms' of expression

Restraint being advocated by ACL

The ACL is one of the primary supporters of Senator Stephen Conroy's mandatory Internet Blacklist. The ACL seeks to extend the blacklist to filter all pornographic materials and not just materials which are considered inappropriate for children (the original reason for the blacklist's creation). An Australian citizen who wants to download pornographic material via the internet would then have to request that their internet service provider unblock the filter.

Jim Wallace, ACL Managing Director and former SAS Commander, was called as an expert witness to a Standing Committee of States and Commonwealth Attorneys-General, reviewing classifications. The meeting was shown a, "selection of clips from various games to provide examples of the levels of violence and sexual content." One of those computer games was Modern Warfare 2. Jim Wallace told the committee that, "the games industry maintains it's just a game. It seems Anders Behring Breivik is smarter than that. In one of his blogs he said: "I see Modern Warfare 2 more as part of my training simulation than anything else". During his trial Breivik told how he played these video games, for over a year, around 16 hours a day, to hone his gun and targeting skills. ACL has said that a to-be-released, video game which lets players assassinate Adolf Hitler with graphic "X-ray" footage of bullets tearing through people is "sick".

In January 2012 Cineplex Australia caused controversy for displaying a live uncensored twitter feed on its website, after comments which included swearing as well as jokes about bestiality appeared in the feed. ACL Queensland director Wendy Francis described it as "totally inappropriate" and Queensland University of Technology associate professor Axel Bruns said it was rare to see a company using an uncensored Twitter feed on its website, labelling it "a very dangerous strategy". Cineplex Australia subsequently removed the live feed, acknowledging "It shouldn't be on there."

The ACL expressed concern at the cyberbullying of a staff member from some activists.

Miranda Devine wrote in the Herald Sun that Jim Wallace "has copped more than his fair share of abuse when it comes to defending traditional marriage".

Restraint being advocated by others

In January 2012 the Herald Sun published an opinion piece by Margaret Court in which she said, “I believe that a person’s sexuality is a choice". Complaints were made to the Australian Press Council stating that, "modern scientific knowledge indicated that sexuality was not a matter of choice". The Australian Press Council required that the Herald Sun publish a retraction. Noting that the head of the human genome project, Francis Collins, has said that homosexuality is a predisposition, not a pre-determination, the Australian Christian Lobby has stated that the action of the Australian Press Council, "has set a dangerous precedent against free speech".

Following the resignation of one of Australia's leading psychiatrists from the Victoria's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, after his opposition to same-sex marriage became public, the Australian Christian Lobby called it a scalp for activists "in their relentless persecution of anyone who does not support their agenda".

Controversy and criticism

The ACL has been described by a critic as "extremist Christians" and "dominionists", distinctions which the ACL deny and have countered.

Issues relating to censorship

One day prior to the government announcement of a delay to the implementation of the internet filter scheme, the ACL was briefed leading to some criticism of their "disproportionate influence" on the filtering policy.

As of 2012, Australia was the only developed nation not to have an R18+ classification for video games. The ACL constantly lobbied against introducing an R18+ classification. The video gaming community is extremely critical of the ACL's stance against R18+ video games. A commentator noted that the fact the Catholic Church was in favour of introducing R18+ video games and the ACL was not proved "once and for all" that the ACL do not represent all people of Christian faith. After over 10 years of negotiations an R18+ bill was introduced into parliament on 15 February 2012. R18+ games are expected to become available after 1 January 2013.

Issues relating to gay rights

The ACL has supported some rights for LGBTI people, such as the legal rights of same sex couples to access Medicare, inheritances, superannuation benefits and social security income support. However the ACL actively opposes various political moves to grant specific gay rights, particularly those regarding gay marriage, gay adoption and parenting, and has campaigned for the rights of religious organisations to legally discriminate on the basis of sexuality.

The ACL called for the Government to rule out repealing the Marriage Act after the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission confirmed the commission supported same-sex marriage. Jim Wallace has stated that the claim that there is discrimination against homosexual couples is a "myth".

The ACL is of the view that religious institutions, including religious schools, should have the right to apply discrimination on the basis of sexuality, though Jim Wallace has stated he would expect that any school conducting an expulsion on such a basis would do it "in the most loving way that it could for the child".

The ACL has raised the possibility that if gay marriage rights were granted, the next push will be for marriage to include polygamous relationships. Gay marriage campaigners have described this statement by the ACL as a "desperate scare tactic", noting that polygamous marriage is not legal in any country that has legalised gay marriage.

The ACL also cite the hiding of genetic parental information to children as a reason to prevent gay marriage and prevent gay adoption.

The ACL has criticised the government for working with a gay advisory body to assist its decision making as "disgraceful and pandering to a minority". In direct response to these comments, Greens MP Colleen Hartland stated "I would think hatred of gays is un-Christian."

The federal parliament approved a motion proposed by Greens member Adam Bandt for parliamentarians to, "gauge their constituents' views on ways to achieve equal treatment for same-sex couples including marriage". Concurrently a petition calling for the current definition of marriage to be upheld, thereby preventing same-sex marriages, was organised by church groups and collated by ACL. When the politicians reported back on 24 August 2011, this petition was also presented. It contained 52,300 signatures. At the same time GetUp!s counter-petition, created in response to the petition collated by ACL, had 55,000 signatures supporting same-sex marriage. By 1 December 2011 the GetUp! petition had increased to 140,285 signatures which were presented to the Australian Labor Party conference, where same-sex marriage was an agenda item.

A new marriage petition specifically for the ALP conference, was launched at the ACL National Conference, in October 2011. This new petition was jointly organised by the Australian Christian Lobby and the Australian Family Association. Over a six-week period 100,586 people signed up. These signatures were presented to the ALP conference.

In September 2011, Jim Wallace stated the majority of Australians were against gay marriage. In response to this statements, journalist Geoff Lemon accused Jim Wallace of misleading the public, noting that two professional offline polls from 2010 show 57 and 62 percent of Australians support gay marriage respectively.

The ACL have stated that legalising gay marriage would result in religious ministers “being forced to conduct same-sex weddings against their conscience”. Journalist Jacob Holman described that statement as "a ridiculous lie", considering the bill in favour of legalising gay marriage at the time explicitly stated that would not be the case and only 12 per cent of respondents to a senate inquiry disagreed that churches should be allowed to refuse to marry gay couples.

In May 2012 Reverend Roger Munson, from the Uniting Church in Canberra, said the Australian Christian Lobby's opposition to gay marriage did not represent the stance of all Christians, stating "Jesus preached the message of inclusion not exclusion." Sydney Baptist pastor Mike Hercock said he was part of a congregation that supported gay marriage and was "particularly concerned by the dehumanising arguments of the Australian Christian Lobby" on the issue.

Criticism from other Christians

According to journalist Mark Serrels, a high ranking Australian Catholic Bishop who asked not to be named stated that the ACL is often driven not to change policy per se, but simply to make noise. To satiate those who support and fund the group.

Nathan Cambell, a Christian and student at Queensland Theological College wrote an open letter to Jim Wallace in response to Wallace's comments on video games in the wake of the 2011 Norway attacks. Cambell accused Jim Wallace of trying to capitalise on the tragedy for political gain, and criticised Wallace's decision to condemn a video game rather than the perpetrator who identified himself as a Christian.

Jeremy Ray, a Christian video game reviewer, has accused the ACL of giving Christians a bad name due to their opposition of R18+ video games, considering their comments and tactics as well as the fact that over 90% of Australians and the Catholic Church were in favour of introducing the legislation.

In December 2011 the Victorian Council of Churches (VCC) released a media release entitled "Australian Christian Lobby does not represent all Australian Christians, nor all Christian viewpoints", expressing dismay at what they described as "the one-sided view of Christianity portrayed in the Australian media". The VCC noted that there is a growing concern amongst its 30 member churches that their voices are not heard or considered because of the media’s reliance on groups like ACL.

Anzac Day 2011

The ACL attracted controversy after Jim Wallace tweeted on Anzac Day in 2011: "Just hope that as we remember servicemen and women today we remember the Australia they fought for – wasn't gay marriage and Islamic!" Critics responded immediately with statements such as: "Jim Wallace of the Australian Christian Lobby should be ashamed, using Anzac Day to push a homophobic and racist agenda." Wallace later apologised for the comments and deleted them.

Uniting Church minister Reverend Bill Crews described Wallace's comments as "unchristian in the extreme", and Emmaus Baptist Community Church minister Simon Moyle tweeted back “For what it’s worth, I’m a Christian leader and @JimWallaceACL doesn’t remotely speak for me or any other Christians I know.”

In direct response to the controversy a group of Australian Christians started a petition stating that the ACL does not represent their views.

“We are Australian Christians, and we’d like you to know that the Australian Christian Lobby does not speak for us.

— Part of the petition to Prime Minister Julia Gillard

The petition was signed by over 250 people in its first 24 hours.

Adshel advertisements

In May 2011 the advertising agency Adshel pulled a series of billboards from circulation in Brisbane following what has been described as a coordinated campaign from the Australian Christian Lobby. The advertisements, which were encouraging safe sex, featured a fully clothed, hugging gay couple holding an unopened condom packet. Adshel's CEO stated they removed the billboards after receiving around 30 complaints and that "None of the complaints indicated any liaison with the Australian Christian Lobby, so Adshel was made to believe that they originated from individual members of the public". The billboards were reinstated following counter-protests of their removal and revelations that the ACL was responsible for the campaign. When the ACL was accused of homophobia an ACL representative publicly stated their complaints had nothing to do with homosexuality and that they opposed "the sexual nature of the ads". However several of the individual complaints to Adshel suggested the ads would "encourage homosexuality".

Both the major political parties voiced support for the ads. The then, State Treasurer Andrew Fraser said complaints about the ad were homophobic and Healthy Communities executive director Paul Martin accused the ACL of trying to have gay people "erased from the public sphere". Over 80,000 people joined a Facebook group supporting the ads following the ACL's actions. The ACL's actions backfired further with several advertising agencies deciding to run the ads free of charge.

In September 2011 Jim Wallace stated that online polls in favour of gay marriage could not be trusted as individual gay rights supporters were voting multiple times. Journalist Geoff Lemon accused Wallace of hypocrisy regarding this statement, noting the ACL had previously encouraged their supporters to send complaints to Adshel that did not mention any liaison with the ACL, so it would appear that the complaints were coming from individual members of the public.

Nazi inferences

In July 2011 the ACL joined Loree Rudd, the sister of Kevin Rudd, in accusing supporters of marriage equality of using Nazi tactics in campaigning for equal rights. After Loree Rudd was criticised for referring to gay-rights activists as '"the global gay Gestapo'", the ACL's Jim Wallace suggested marriage equality advocates needed to learn from the horrors of Nazi Germany, stating "I suggest Loree Rudd’s opponents visit the museum in Nuremberg and see how important it is that these deplorable tactics be opposed." The Jewish Community supporting Marriage Equality called upon Loree Rudd and the ACL to apologise for their comments which "offended both the GLBT community and the Holocaust-survivor community", stating that the ACL's comments that marriage equality lobbyists used the same tactics of "fear and intimidation to silence dissent" as the Nazis did were "offensive and obviously untrue." NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff also condemned Loree Rudd and the ACL's use of Nazi analogies, stating "Drawing a comparison between advocates of gay marriage and the Gestapo is insensitive and counterproductive. The thoughtless use of Nazi and Holocaust analogies in intelligent and informed discourse is completely inappropriate and unjustified."

On June 7 2012 ACL's Jim Wallace appeared on Channel 7's Sunrise program to discuss marriage equality and said "I would like to just say that I think this whole campaign would do great credit to Joseph Goebbels, because what we’ve had, we’ve had the demonisation..."

National Marriage Day

The ACL was involved in the National Marriage Day rally in 2011. Conflicting sources report the ACL as either a co-founder of the rally or just a supporter. The ACL's Jim Wallace told those who attended that there was, "a need to end the pejorative language framing this debate." The Sydney Morning Herald described the event as a "rally to ridicule gay marriage". Guest speakers at the rally stated gay marriage should be "laughed at and ridiculed" and associated gay marriage with paedophilia. Regarding the comments made at the rally mental health psychologist Paul Martin stated "Prejudice and ridicule damage the mental health of young same-sex attracted people and the last thing they need to hear are these kinds of offensive comments from people who purport to represent 'family values'."

See also

• Christianity in Australia
• Internet censorship in Australia
• Euthanasia in Australia
• Human Rights in Australia

References

1. Lydia Kinda, Review of Breakfast Address by Jim Wallace, The Christian Legal Society, retrieved 14 November 2011
2. Robert Law (2004), Australian Christian Lobby, Trowel and Sword, retrieved 18 November 2011
3. Historical details for ABN: 40 075 120 517, Australian Business Register (historical details), retrieved 14 November 2011
4. Kameel Majdali (2004), Christian leadership in the twenty-first century: An Australian perspective (PDF), Teach All Nations Inc., retrieved 14 November 2011
5. About ACL, 2010, retrieved 23 October 2010
6. Dennis Shanahan (5 April 2011), Julia Gillard reaches out to Christian leaders, The Australian, retrieved 18 November 2011
7. Who Are We? (Make A Stand), 2010, retrieved 24 September 2010
8. Historical details for ABN: 40 075 120 517, ASIC, retrieved 15 November 2011
9. Political Expenditure Return - 2009-2010, AEC, retrieved 15 November 2011
10. Our Board, ACL, retrieved 15 November 2011
11. Our Staff, ACL, retrieved 15 November 2011
12. Viewpoint (PDF), Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, retrieved 15 November 2011
13. Media Releases, ACL, retrieved 15 November 2011
14. Newsletters, ACL, retrieved 15 November 2011
15. "ACL Annual Report 2011" (PDF). ACL. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
16. Falling marriage rates hurting children: report, Melbourne: The Age, 6 September 2011, retrieved 27 October 2011
17. How to comply with classification laws, Australian Government, retrieved 7 November 2011
18. , The Advertising Standards Bureau http://www.adstandards.com.au/, retrieved 7 November 2011 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
19. Fresh controversy over bus stop condom ads, Brisbane Times, 11 October 2011, retrieved 7 November 2011
20. Make it Count 2010 Ms Julia Gillard Questions (at 19:45 min), ACL, 7 August 2010, retrieved 7 November 2011
21. McConnell, Mary (10 October 2011), Goodbye boys! Crackdown on sexual imagery in outdoor advertising will see provocative underwear poses banned, London: Daily Mail (UK), retrieved 7 November 2011
22. yahoo.7.TV,Sunrise (18 October 2011). "Billboard Battle". Seven Sunrise. Retrieved 22 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
23. Submission to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into homelessness and low-cost rental accommodation (PDF), March, retrieved 23 October 2011 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
24. The National Marriage Forum - Social Issues briefing #021 (PDF), Anglican Diocese of Sydney, 6 August 2004, retrieved 5 November 2011
25. Make it Count 2010 Ms Julia Gillard Questions (at 12:08 min), ACL, 7 August 2010, retrieved 5 November 2011
26. Nicholas Tonti-Filippini (6 September 2011), Marriage is about rights of the children, Melbourne: The Age, retrieved 4 November 2011
27. Joe de Bruyn, National Secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (16 October 2011), The fight against same-sex marriage, ACL, retrieved 4 November 2011
28. Megan Levy (10 May 2012). "I won't vote for it: PM stands firm on gay marriage". The Age. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
29. Submission 147 to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Concerning the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010, APH Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, 4 May 2012, retrieved 17 May 2012
30. ^ Submission 4512 to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Concerning the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010, APH Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, 4 May 2012, retrieved 17 May 2012
31. ^ Witness statements, Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, 4 May 2012, retrieved 16 May 2012
32. "Council of Churches elects new president" (PDF). NSW Council of Churches. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
33. "The ACL does its job well" (PDF). NSW Council of Churches. 18 December 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
34. Katrina Fox (2 March 2011), Marriage needs redefining, ABC, retrieved 2 March 2011
35. Tory Shepherd (29 May 2012). "Confessions of a polygamist: A man's love for two sistersl". news.com. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
36. Ean Higgins (21 May 2012). "Marriage for four put to Senate". The Australian. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
37. "Putting Pandora back in the marriage equality box". Online Opinion. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
38. "Christian lobby: Green's 'marriage equality' inconsistency is revealed by rejecting polygamy". Christian Today. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
39. Christian lobby congratulates ACT Greens on first steps to combat sexualisation of children, ChristianToday, 2010, retrieved 27 October 2011
40. The abortion issue is alive and kicking, OnLine Opinion, 12 October 2010, retrieved 27 October 2011
41. Abortion survivor joins debate, Melbourne: The Age, 31 August 2008, retrieved 27 October 2011
42. Miranda Devine (19 August 2011). "Stroke of a pen cuts sperm donor's life with his child". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
43. "Christian lobby welcomes biological details inclusion on birth certificates". Christian Today. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
44. Legal Australian brothels linked to human trafficking, sex slavery and organized crime, Life Site News, 12 October 2011, retrieved 27 October 2011
45. Bianca Hall (13 January 2012), Sex in the ACT: Part II, Canberra Times, retrieved 19 January 2012
46. "Inquiry calls for sex industry shake-up". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
47. "Crackdown urged on sex trade". The Canberra Times. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
48. "AU Parliamentary screening tour". Exodus Cry. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
49. Christian Lobby: ACT government feeding demand for trafficked women, Christian Today, 24 February 2012, retrieved 28 February 2012
50. 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, retrieved 23 October 2011 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
51. Mounster, Bruce (17 February 2012), Nitschke visit stirs debate, The Mercury, retrieved 28 February 2012
52. Wilkie insists poker machine deal still holds, ABC, 18 January 2012, retrieved 19 January 2012
53. Christian lobby attacks Tony Abbott over poker machine reform, The Australian, 27 October 2011, retrieved 27 October 2011
54. Richard Willingham (29 February 2012). "Wilkie threat to vote against 'weak' pokie reform bill". SMH. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
55. Micah Challenge, ChristianToday, 2010, retrieved 23 October 2010
56. Bianca Hall (11 May 2012). "Coalition won't keep aid commitment". SMH. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
57. Christian Lobby: with compassion and justice, both parties' refugee solutions could work, ChristianToday, 2010, retrieved 23 October 2010
58. ACL Submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians (PDF), Sept, 2011, retrieved 26 October 2011 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
59. Australia must pressure Egyptian Government to protect Christians, ACL says, Australian Conservative, 18 August 2011, retrieved 18 November 2011
60. Interview - David Yates, Compass Australia Coordinator, Christian Today, 3 December 2007, retrieved 27 October 2011
61. Submission - Draft K‐10 Australian Curriculum (PDF), 28 May 2010, retrieved 1 November 2011
62. No more 'Before Christ', 6PR - Perth, 8 September 2011, retrieved 1 November 2011
63. Christian group applauds saving of AD, BC, Ninemsn news, 21 October 2011, retrieved 1 November 2011
64. Jim Wallace (31 May 2012). "The lobbyist's view: Secularising school chaplaincy". Sight Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
65. Here God is anything but dead, SMH, 22 June 2010, retrieved 23 October 2010
66. Transcript – Australian Conference (PDF), National Library of Australia, 2007, retrieved 24 October 2011
67. ACL welcomes NSW political leaders' commitments, Catholic News, 16 February 2011, retrieved 4 February 2012
68. Christian lobby wins first political debate, ABC, 24 September 2011, retrieved 4 February 2012
69. Poll Call: February 3, Brisbane Times, 3 February 2012, retrieved 4 February 2012
70. ‘Make it Count WA’: Deputy Premier and Opposition Leader to address Christian voters, Christian Today, 21 August 2008, retrieved 4 February 2012
71. ‘Make it Count Tasmania’: Premier and Opposition Leader to address Christian voters, Christian Today, 2 February 2010, retrieved 4 February 2012
72. Christians 'disappointed' Stanhope will miss debate, The Canberra Times, 11 September 2008, retrieved 4 February 2012
73. Christian 'Meet Your Candidate' Forum in key Brisbane Seats, Christian Today, 18 March 2009, retrieved 4 February 2012
74. ACL Confirms Porn Filter Stance - Christianity Today., retrieved 1 April 2009
75. "Christians upset at Conroy's net policy 'backtrack'", The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 May 2009, retrieved 3 July 2009
76. Jim Wallace (30 July 2011), Virtual classes of cold-blooded killing, The Australian, retrieved 12 March 2012
77. Owen Good & Michael McWhertor (23 July 2011), Oslo Terrorist Used Modern Warfare 2 as "Training-Simulation", World of Warcraft as Cover, Kotaku, retrieved 12 March 2012
78. "Norwegian mass killer Breivik wanted to kill all 600 campers on island, then kidnap and behead former prime minister live on the net". Daily Mail. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
79. "Christian lobby wants Hitler sniper game banned". news.com. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
80. Donoughue, Paul (22 January 2012), "Tweets offend: Cineplex pulls feed", The Sunday Mail (Qld), retrieved 22 January 2012
81. "ACL QLD director receives abusive language and cyberbullying for campaigning against sexualized billboard". Christian Today. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
82. Devine, Miranda (22 October 2011). "Gays must curb vile vitriol". Herald Sun. Herald Sun. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
83. Margaret Court (25 January 2012). "Priority is to protect marriage". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
84. Dean Byrd. ""Homosexuality Is Not Hardwired," Concludes Dr. Francis S. Collins, Head Of The Human Genome Project". NARTH. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
85. "Margaret Court comment on homosexual ruled to be "inaccurate" by Australian Press Council, ACL: free speech being attacked". Christian Today. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
86. Mike Hedge (16 May 2012). "Top psychiatrist resigns over anti-gay stand". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
87. Stevenson, Chrys (23 September 2011). "Is the Australian Christian Lobby Dominionist?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
88. Benson, Rod (19 September 2011), "Faith and Politics: Dismantling Stevenson's Dominionist Conspiracy", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 25 October 2011
89. Wallace, Jim (23 September 2011), "Exposing Chrys Stevenson's Blind Faith", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 25 October 2011
90. Fran Foo (20 July 2010), Concern at lobby group's influence as Christians get filter plan tip-off, The Australian, retrieved 20 July 2010
91. ^ Serrels, Mark (13 May 2011). "The ACL: Why Do They Exist, Why Do We Listen, And Why Should We Care?". Kotaku. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
92. Allen, Danny (9 August 2011). "Australian Census: A Vote For Jedi Is A Vote For Jim Wallace". Gizmodo. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
93. Serrels, Mark (26 May 2011). "Australian Catholic Bishops Welcomes The Draft R18+ Guidelines". Kotaku. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
94. ACL Submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission - Protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity (PDF), November 2010, retrieved 26 October 2011{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
95. Government should reject Australian Human Rights Commission’s suggestion to repeal Marriage Act, Christian Today, 2011, retrieved 23 October 2011
96. David Marr (12 February 2011), 'Appalling' law lets schools expel gay students, Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved 13 February 2011
97. Patricia Karvelas (7 February 2011), Same-sex first, then polygamy, The Australian, retrieved 27 October 2011
98. "Christian lobby 'getting desperate'". Star Observer. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
99. Katherine Spackman, Senate’s donor conception report highlights issues ignored in gay marriage debate, Australian Christian Lobby, retrieved 13 February 2011
100. ^ Willingham, Richard (N0vember 5, 2010). "Christian lobby rails against gay advisory body". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 20 October 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
101. Union of sameness versus union of difference, On Line Opinion, 8 February 2012, retrieved 28 February 2012
102. Katter brother boosts same-sex marriage, SMH, 24 August 2011, retrieved 28 February 2012
103. Gay marriage to dominate ALP conference, Sky News, 3 December 2011, retrieved 28 February 2012
104. Sign the new marriage petition before the ALP Conference, Brindabella Baptist Church, 18 October 2011, retrieved 28 February 2012
105. "Labor's marriage reform". Ten News. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
106. Strong support for marriage petition (PDF), NSW Council of Churches, 4 December 2011, retrieved 28 February 2012
107. Labor party makes same sex marriage part of its policy platform, Australian Prayer Network, 7 December 2011, retrieved 28 February 2012
108. ^ Lemon, Geoff (9 September 2011). "Jim Wallace is Optimus Prime". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
109. Holman, Jacob (27 April 2012). "Australia edges closer to a gay old time at the altar". The Punch. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
110. "PM shrugs off Obama's gay marriage support". WAtoday. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
111. Serrels, Mark (28 July 2011). "A Christian's Open Letter To Jim Wallace And The ACL". Kotaku. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
112. Ray, Jeremy (9 December 2010). "Australian Christian Lobby ... I disown thee". The Punch. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
113. "Australian Christian Lobby does not represent all Australian Christians, nor all Christian viewpoints" (PDF). vcc.org.au. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
114. "Australian Christian Lobby does not represent all Australian Christians, nor all Christian viewpoints: VCC". melbourne.anglican.com.au. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
115. ^ Packham, Ben (16 April 2011). "Christian lobbyist sorry for gays, Islam tweet". The Australian. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
116. Masters, Stephanie (25 April 2011). "Jim Wallace from Australian Christian Lobby causes Anzac Day outrage with anti-gay, anti-Muslim Twitter message". The Advertiser. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
117. "Wallace slammed by clergy". Star Observer. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
118. "Christians turn back on lobby". starobserver.com.au. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
119. Canning, Simon (1 June 2011). "AdShel backtracks on billboard ban". The Australian. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
120. "Adshel reinstates gay HIV awareness billboard ad after Michael O'Brien's [[Facebook]] campaign". News.com.au. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011. {{cite news}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
121. ^ Sheldrick, Drew (7 June 2011). "Storm in a bus shelter". starobserver.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
122. "Adshel reinstates safe sex ad after removal sparked online backlash". Herald Sun. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
123. "HIV campaigners outraged as safe sex ads pulled from Brisbane bus shelters". The Courier-Mail. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
124. Nancarrow, Dan (6 June 2011). "Bid to ban gay safe sex ad backfires further". brisbanetimes.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
125. ^ "ACL backs gay Nazi claim". Star Observer. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
126. "Apology demand spreads". Star Observer. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
127. ^ Benjamin, Henry (15 July 2011). "Jewish Gays denounce Loree Rudd's Nazi inferences". jwire.com. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
128. "Same-sex marriage showdown". 7 June 2012.
129. ^ "Anger over rally to ridicule gay marriage". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
130. ^ "ACL supports National Marriage Day Canberra". International News Magazine. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
131. "Gay marriage ridicule 'damages youths'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.

External links

• ACL official website
• Make A Stand
• The Australian Marriage Forum
• Viewpoint - Public Policy magazine
• Compass - young people's training program
• For Kids’ Sake - report

• Use dmy dates from August 2011
• Organisations based in the Australian Capital Territory
• Christianity in Australia
• Christian political organizations
• Australian pro-life organisations