Australian Christian Lobby Explained

Australian Christian Lobby
Founded Date:1995
Registration Id:40 075 120 517 (ABN)
Location:Canberra, Australia
Area Served:Australia
Key People:Chairman, Jim Wallace AM,
Managing Director, Michelle Pearse,
Chairman Emeritus, Tony McLellan

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is a conservative right-wing Christian advocacy organisation based in Canberra.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Structure

The ACL is registered as a public company limited by guarantee and files political expenditure returns with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Funding comes mostly from individuals but names are not disclosed by the organisation. It has no political affiliation and states it supports Christian values regarding faith.[7]

Eternity House, the Deakin, Australian Capital Territory, headquarters of ACL, is registered as a separate not-for-profit entity.[8]

Staff

YearNamePeriodTime in office
1995John Gagliardi1995–20005 years
2000Jim Wallace2000–201313 years
2013Lyle Shelton2013–20185 years
2018Martyn IlesFrom 3 Feb 2018 to 24 Feb 20235 years
2023 Wendy Francis2023 - 2023
2023Michelle Pearse[9] From May 2023
Jim Wallace was the managing director of ACL from 2000 to 2013.[10] [11]

Lyle Shelton was managing director from 2013 to 2018.[12]

Martyn Iles was appointed managing director in 2018.[13] 3The company has a self-appointed board of management – board members are invited to join by existing board members. Board members are not elected by members.[14]

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.[15]

In 2023, the Board terminated the contract of CEO Martyn Iles.[16]

Lobbying strategies

ACL activities include:

History

The Australian Christian Coalition (ACC) was founded in 1995 by John Gagliardi,[28] 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.[29] 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.[30]

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

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.[31]

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.[32]

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".[33] This subsequently "attracted considerable community support for the commercial rights of the Hyatt and threatened the free-speech credentials of the marriage-equality lobby". 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.[34] [35]

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[36] to ACL's empty offices. Following the incident ACL managing directorLyle Shelton stated that it had been an attack targeting the organisation due to its public advocacy.[37] 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.[38] 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.[39]

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,[40] a technology company,[41] an IT firm[42] and a university.[43] 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.[44] 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.[45]

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,[46] 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.[47] [48]

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.[49] [50] [51]

Constituency and influence

One of the main criticisms of the ACL is that it overstates the constituency it represents.[14] 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.

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",[52] has the "professional knowledge to run modern election campaigns"[53] and "will not go away".[54] Warhurst notes that ACL as an evangelical lobby group is more politically influential than the Family First party.[55]

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".[56] 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.[57]

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. 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.

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.[58] [59] 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.[60]

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.

The ACL has been described as extremist, possibly influenced by Christian dominionism and reconstructionism.[14] This is denied by the ACL. LGBTIQ advocate Carl Katter has said that the aim of the group is to "facilitate and perpetuate hate".[61]

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."[62] 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."[63] [64]

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.[65]

Ancillary organisations

ACL has established the Lachlan Macquarie Institute,[66] as a training organisation for public policy influencers.[43]

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'.[67]

ACL has established the Centre for Human Dignity[68] led by Wendy Francis, which it describes as "an initiative" which is "against sexual exploitation".[69]

Focus of lobbying

Supports

ACL supports:

Opposes

ACL opposes:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Australia's Christians form a broader political church that most realise . Warhurst, John. 19 April 2017. The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 April 2017.
  2. Web site: Christianity and the LNP. Brisbane Times. 8 February 2012.
  3. Maddox . Marion. Right-wing Christian Intervention in a Naïve Polity. Political Theology . 15 . 2 . 2014 . 132–150. 1462-317X. 10.1179/1462317X13Z.00000000071. 142175875.
  4. Web site: Politics, Policy And Faith: The Christian Right in Australia . politicsandreligionjournal.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626100445/http://www.politicsandreligionjournal.com/images/pdf_files/engleski/volume6_no2/smith.pdf . 26 June 2015.
  5. Web site: Pilgrims' progress. The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 January 2006.
  6. Web site: Political influence of Christian right 'overstated'. 20 December 2009. Tom Hyland. Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. News: Money and mining men behind the shadowy Australian Christian Lobby . Josh Taylor . 9 September 2016 . 22 February 2016 . crikey.com.au . Crikey .
  8. News: Australian Christian Lobby registers Eternity House building as a separate not-for-profit . Jeffery, Stephen. 20 March 2016. The Canberra Times. 1 October 2017.
  9. Web site: Davenport . Tony . ACL Appoints Woman Chief Executive . Vision Christian Media . 3 April 2023 . 14 April 2023.
  10. Web site: Sandeman. John. Changing the guard at the Christian lobby . 29 April 2013 . . 19 August 2015.
  11. Web site: Hatcher . Leigh. Jim and Lyle: Changing of the guard . 28 April 2013 . Open House . 19 August 2015.
  12. Web site: Our staff . https://web.archive.org/web/20111206193003/http://www.acl.org.au/our-staff/ . dead . 6 December 2011 . 12 May 2013.
  13. News: Martyn Iles new Managing Director for Australian Christian Lobby . 3 February 2018. Anglican Church League. 5 February 2018.
  14. News: The Australian Christian Lobby's bid for influence . Martin McKenzie-Murray . 9 September 2016 . 2 July 2016 . . Schwartz Media .
  15. News: Lyle Shelton takes job at Cory Bernardi's party. Gomes, Luke Henriques. 4 February 2018. The New Daily . 4 February 2018.
  16. Web site: Australian Christian Lobby ditches managing director . Anthony . Segaert . Sydney Morning Herald . 2023-02-24 . 2023-02-24 .
  17. News: Turnbull to address Christian concerns . 3 October 2008. Christian Today. 24 April 2016.
  18. Web site: Bill Shorten's description of Christians 'wide of the mark'. Patricia. Karvelas. 30 October 2014. The Australian. 1 November 2014.
  19. News: Scott Morrison tells Australian Christian Lobby budget will focus on tax and jobs . 23 April 2016. The Guardian. 24 April 2016.
  20. News: Christians commiserate after same-sex marriage vote loss . 18 November 2017. The Australian. 25 November 2017.
  21. YouTube, a Google company . YouTube.
  22. News: Cory Bernardi and Matt Canavan rally 'No' voters at ACL conference with calls to fight on . The New Daily. 25 November 2017.
  23. YouTube, a Google company . YouTube.
  24. News: Mike Baird's emotional public moment during election policy forum . Nicholls, Sean. 4 March 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 February 2017.
  25. News: WA election: Euthanasia, Safe Schools hot topics as Liberal, Labor leaders face Christian voters. Laschon, Eliza. 24 February 2017. ABC News. 5 March 2017.
  26. News: Leaders quizzed by church leaders on gay marriage, euthanasia and same-sex marriage. 27 February 2013 . Perth Now. 24 February 2017.
  27. Web site: Submissions. The Australian Christian Lobby. 30 April 2014.
  28. Web site: News Store. https://web.archive.org/web/20161120165043/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news951102_0032_5322. dead. 2016-11-20. 20 November 2016. 14 April 2023.
  29. News: Business of God. Gold Coast Bulletin. 25 January 2001. Brad. Sharpe. Australia. 4 November 2012. subscription .
  30. News: Religiously inspired political activism: A historical and comparative study . Ranganul, Amber. January 2009. School of Humanities, Griffith University. https://web.archive.org/web/20161120151853/https://www120.secure.griffith.edu.au/rch/file/f517e61a-893c-a73d-df94-9cec0dc8df4f/1/Ranganui_2009_02Thesis.pdf . 20 November 2016. 20 November 2016 .
  31. News: Cullen. Simon. Gillard pulls out of Christian Lobby speech in gay marriage row. 30 September 2017. ABC News. 6 September 2012.
  32. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/australian-christian-lobby-threat-to-campaign-against-coalition/news-story/410e8a93d31f3311872003163f9c60b8 Christians to target Coalition
  33. News: Hyatt Hotel defends booking for Australian Christian Lobby's anti-gay marriage conference . 21 October 2014. Canberra Times.
  34. News: Christian 'no' campaign event forced to fold. 17 September 2016. Sky News. 29 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170330072646/http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/national/2016/09/17/christian--no--campaign-event-forced-to-fold.html. 30 March 2017. dead.
  35. News: Same-sex marriage event off: threats to hotel staff . Crowe, David. 17 September 2016. The Australian. 29 March 2017. subscription .
  36. News: Man who attempted suicide by blowing up his van outside Australian Christian Lobby HQ said he 'disliked' the group. Crawford, Sarah. 16 August 2017. Daily Telegraph. 16 August 2017.
  37. News: Hunter. Fergus. Australian Christian Lobby van attack: Lyle Shelton links explosion to 'extreme left' MPs. 1 January 2018. The Canberra Times. 22 December 2016. 1 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180101135632/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-christian-lobby-van-attack-lyle-shelton-links-explosion-to-extreme-left-mps-20161221-gtg8a6.html. dead.
  38. News: Lewis. Rosie. Christian lobby 'not first target' for car bombing. 27 October 2017. The Australian. 25 October 2017.
  39. News: Koziol. Michael. 'Uncomfortable' top cop rejects Liberal senators' claims over Australian Christian Lobby car bombing. 27 October 2017. The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 October 2017.
  40. News: PricewaterhouseCoopers can count on same-sex cause . Morton, Rick. 15 March 2017. The Australian. 30 March 2017. subscription .
  41. News: IBM refuses to back Christian executive . Urban, Rebecca. 23 March 2017. The Australian. 30 March 2017 . subscription .
  42. News: Christians under siege, religious freedom inquiry hears . Urban, Rebecca. The Australian. 6 May 2017. 13 May 2017 . subscription .
  43. News: Gay rights activist slams Christian academic . Higgins, Ean. 29 March 2017. The Australian. 30 March 2017 . subscription .
  44. News: Safety fears at Christian charities . Sahnahan, Dennis. 28 March 2017. The Australian. 29 March 2017 . subscription .
  45. News: Christian leaders slam 'appalling and unAustralian' gay activists . King, Simon. 29 March 2017. The Australian. 29 March 2017.
  46. Web site: Professor John Whitehall . University of Western Sydney. 12 May 2017 . 13 May 2017.
  47. News: Protesters promise to shut down Australian Christian Lobby event against Safe Schools program . Hore, Monique . Herald Sun. 9 May 2017 . 13 May 2017.
  48. News: Safe Schools protest targets Arrow on Swanston hotel . Akerman, Tessa. The Australian. 9 May 2017 . 13 May 2017 . subscription .
  49. News: If You Mail The Australian Christian Lobby An Envelope Full of Glitter, They'll Pay For the Stamp! . Graham, Chris. 25 August 2017. New Matilda. 25 August 2017.
  50. News: Suspicious packages addressed to Australian Christian Lobby cause mail centre evacuation . 25 August 2017. ABC News. 25 August 2017.
  51. News: Packages containing white powder were on way to Australian Christian Lobby . McDonough, Keely. 25 August 2017. The Daily Telegraph. 26 August 2017.
  52. Web site: Pressure groups and the lessons political leaders should learn. John. Warhurst. 29 October 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 October 2014.
  53. News: Religion will play a role in 2016 federal election . Warhurst, John. 11 May 2016. The Age. 12 May 2016.
  54. Web site: The Australian Christian Lobby will not go away . 3 November 2014. Eureka Street. 13 August 2015.
  55. Warhurst. John. 2006. Religion in 21 st Century Australian National Politics. Papers on Parliament. Commonwealth of Australia. The Senate. Canberra. 46. 61–80. 1 April 2013.
  56. News: Who are the Australian Christian Lobby? . Ireland, Judith. 19 February 2016. The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 February 2016.
  57. Web site: Robinson. Geoffrey. Australian Christian Lobby: the rise and fall of the religious right. The Conversation. 1 October 2017. 14 June 2016.
  58. Web site: Christian Lobby analysis reveals strong gay focus. 9 June 2012. Brisbane Times. 7 June 2012.
  59. Web site: PM shrugs off Obama's gay marriage support. 10 May 2012. WAtoday. 6 May 2012.
  60. News: Lloyd. Peter. How powerful is the Australian Christian Lobby?. 1 October 2017. PM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 May 2013.
  61. Web site: This man runs a political group obsessed with gay-hate. 7 September 2012. Mamamia.
  62. News: Australian Christian Lobby seeks to empower its grassroots . Eternity News. Payne, Kaley. 3 May 2019 .
  63. News: Christian lobby targets key conservative seats in test of US-style campaign activism . The Guardian. 10 May 2019 .
  64. News: Bass a focus of 'highly targeted' Australian Christian Lobby campaign . The Examiner. Inglis, Rob. 11 May 2019 .
  65. News: Christians and the low paid won it for Morrison - ANU professor . Eternity News. Sandyman, John. 22 May 2019 .
  66. Web site: LMI – Wise Leaders. 14 April 2023.
  67. News: Human Rights Law Alliance formed to fight for essential freedoms . Merritt, Chris. 2 September 2017. The Australian. 21 November 2017.
  68. Web site: Centre For Human Dignity - United Against Sexual Exploitation. Australian Christian Lobby. https://web.archive.org/web/20210514171104/https://www.acl.org.au/centre_for_human_dignity_united_against_sexual_exploitation#splash-signup. 21 November 2017. 14 May 2021.
  69. Web site: Centre for Human Dignity . 21 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040123/http://www.centreforhumandignity.org.au/ . 1 December 2017 .
  70. News: Gay marriage lobby holds the aces, but the silent majority is stirring . Devine, Miranda. Daily Telegraph. 13 August 2017 .
  71. http://sydney.edu.au/law/news/docs_pdfs_images/2011/Sep/FKS-ResearchReport.pdf 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
  72. https://www.buzzfeed.com/lanesainty/lyle-shelton-gay-conversion-therapy 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
  73. http://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=411661c0-6f9e-4aee-ab53-ed7ef037e525&subId=462658 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.
  74. News: This Christian Lobby Group Is Fighting A Proposal To Ban Gay Conversion Therapy. BuzzFeed. 2018-07-02. en.
  75. News: Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—Superannuation) Bill 2008 . 9 . Les . Nielson . Kirsty . Magarey . 17 September 2009 . . 21 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180507051117/http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/billsdgs/86LR6/upload_binary/86lr66.pdf;fileType=application/pdf#search=%22legislation/billsdgs/86LR6%22 . 7 May 2018 . dead.
  76. Web site: Call for strict line on R18+ games. Cauchi, Stephen. 24 June 2012. The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 August 2012.
  77. Web site: Christian lobby wants Hitler sniper game banned. 30 April 2012. news.com. 3 May 2012.
  78. Web site: Australian Census: A Vote For Jedi Is A Vote For Jim Wallace. Allen, Danny. 9 August 2011. Gizmodo. 14 August 2011.
  79. Web site: Australian Christian Lobby ... I disown thee. Ray, Jeremy. 9 December 2010 . The Punch. 12 March 2012.
  80. Web site: Why R18+ ratings are still a losing game. Polites, Harrison. 12 July 2013. Business Spectator. 21 February 2014.
  81. Web site: Opposition welcomes dumping of Labor's internet filter scheme. Coorey, Phillip. 10 November 2012. The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 November 2012.
  82. News: Australia's most complained about ad Rip & Roll safe sex campaign returns. 12 August 2012. News Ltd. 3 May 2013.
  83. News: Offensive Wicked campervans not welcome at Gold Coast music festival Splendour in the Grass . Simonot, Suzanne. 28 April 2016. Gold Coast Bulletin. 29 December 2016.
  84. News: Volley hits back at Australian Christian Lobby's 'homophobic' response to ad campaign . 19 January 2017. News Ltd. 11 April 2017.
  85. News: Bestiality billboard pulled after outrage. 1 May 2013. Yahoo. 11 April 2017.
  86. News: 'Christian lobby urges fines for bestiality billboard . 2 May 2013 . ABC. 11 April 2017.
  87. News: Wendy Francis on the giant pink condom on Hyde Park Obelisk . 7 November 2014. News Ltd. 11 April 2017.
  88. News: MONA's David Walsh defends 'slaughter' art show, says public outrage good for business, Tas economy . Dunlevie, James. 20 April 2017. ABC. 24 April 2017.
  89. Web site: ACL Donates $100,000 to Israel Folau, Launches Alternative Fundraising Site. 25 June 2019. 25 June 2019. Martyn Iles. Australian Christian Lobby.
  90. News: Israel Folau: Australian Christian lobby hosts new fundraising effort . 25 June 2019 . . . 24 June 2019.
  91. News: 'Pause button' hit after Folau's Christian Lobby fund passes $2m mark. 27 June 2019. 27 June 2019. Sydney Morning Herald.
  92. Web site: A message from Izzy following his settlement with Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/7RPbOWqlA74 . 2021-12-19 . live. . 3 December 2019. 3 December 2019.
  93. News: The Left's bigotry and hypocrisy toward Catholics and Christians is alive and well . Devine, Miranda . 16 October 2016. The Daily Telegraph. 1 November 2016.
  94. News: Interrogation of Jakarta Governor Ahok for blasphemy will bring fear to Christians, ACL warns. 8 November 2016. Christian Today. 17 December 2016.
  95. News: Australian Christian Lobby renews calls for motion declaring Islamic State's persecution of Christians and other religious minorities 'genocide' . Adams, David. 3 April 2017. Sight Magazine. 11 April 2017.
  96. News: Australian Christian Lobby renews calls for motion declaring Islamic State's persecution of Christians and other religious minorities 'genocide' . Adams, David. 3 April 2017. Sight Magazine. 24 April 2017.
  97. News: Christian Lobby Welcomes Increased Aid for Refugees. 23 February 2009. Christian Today. 29 December 2016.
  98. News: Time for Australian airstrikes on IS in Syria says Lib MP Dan Tehan . Owens, Jared. 13 August 2015. The Australian. 13 August 2015.
  99. News: Christian churches welcome focus on taking in refugee minorities . Dennis. Shanahan . Sarah . Martin. 24 November 2015. The Australian. 25 November 2015.
  100. Web site: The lobbyist's view: Secularising school chaplaincy. Jim Wallace. 31 May 2012. Sight Magazine. 31 May 2012.
  101. Web site: Coalition won't keep aid commitment. Bianca Hall. 11 May 2012. SMH. 18 May 2012.
  102. Web site: Australian Christian Lobby urges Turnbull government to copy Donald Trump's foreign aid abortion ban. Stephanie. Peatling. 14 March 2017. The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 April 2023.
  103. News: Sex Party calls for buffer zones around abortion clinics. Preiss, Benjamin. 19 August 2015. The Age. 20 August 2015.
  104. News: Protests banned outside Tas abortion clinics . Ogilvie, Felicity. 22 November 2013. ABC News. 20 August 2015.
  105. News: Euthanasia laws spark debate. Smith, Matt. 13 March 2013. . 31 March 2013.
  106. News: Andrew Denton tells church to get out of euthanasia debate . Kelly, Joe. 11 August 2016. The Australian. 17 November 2016.
  107. News: Euthanasia bill fails in SA by one vote . 17 November 2016. SBS. 17 November 2016.
  108. News: Australian Medical Association stance on euthanasia reinforces need to reject assisted suicide, says ACL . 24 November 2016. Christian Today. 18 January 2017.
  109. News: Australian Christian Lobby's Peter Abetz voices opposition to surrogacy . 16 January 2018 .
  110. Web site: CHAPTER 3– Parliament of Australia. 14 April 2023.
  111. Web site: Marriage Amendment Act 2004. comlaw.gov.au. 16 August 2004 .
  112. 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.'
  113. News: Backlash after anti-marriage equality ad debuts on Mardi Gras night . Whitbourn, Michaela. 8 March 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 August 2015.
  114. News: Same-sex marriage plebiscite: Christian lobby group wants 'override' of anti-discrimination laws during campaign. Taylor, David. 16 February 2016. ABC News. 16 February 2016.
  115. 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.
  116. News: Hobart archbishop's defence moves same-sex marriage advocate . 17 November 2015. The Catholic Leader. 23 October 2016.
  117. Web site: Media Release: ACT Civil Union Bill deliberately undermines Federal marriage laws, (29 March 2006), Australian Christian Lobby . 2016-11-21 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20150919184533/http://www.acl.org.au/2006/03/act-civil-union-bill-deliberately-undermines-federal-marriage-laws/ . 19 September 2015.
  118. News: Christian group condemns two dads couple. 1 June 2012. Bulletin Wire. 9 December 2012. Australia.
  119. News: Two-dads decision opens the floodgate. 2 June 2012. The Daily Telegraph. 9 December 2012. Sydney, Australia.
  120. News: Christian lobby group urges MPs to reject adoption bill . 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 . 30 August 2010. News Ltd. 14 August 2015.
  121. Web site: Inquiry into adoption by same sex couples: Submission 185 . Australian Christian Lobby . February 2009 . NSW Parliament . 14 August 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160117000007/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/b5d1af35b96a45b3ca257567000ddfb4/%24FILE/Submission%20185.pdf . 17 January 2016.
  122. News: Christian group asks Victorian government for right to discriminate on gay adoption . 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. . Tomazin, Farrah. 29 March 2015. The Age. 14 August 2015.
  123. News: Anger over same sex adoption change . State director Mark Brown says it overlooks the rights of children. . 2 March 2012. . 14 August 2015.
  124. News: Conservatives force religious exemptions into same-sex adoption laws . Gordon, Josh. 13 November 2015. . 13 November 2015.
  125. News: The ACL furious over "sexually degrading concepts". Leighton-Dore, Samuel. 31 October 2016. SameSame. 1 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161101164828/http://www.samesame.com.au/news/14577/The-ACL-Furious-Over-Sexually-Degrading-Concepts. 1 November 2016. dead.
  126. News: Andrews faces Christian Lobby showdown over sexual classroom videos . Tomazin, Farrah. 23 October 2016. The Age. 23 October 2016.
  127. News: Safe Schools program to be overhauled and founder Roz Ward removed . Tomazin, Farrah. 17 December 2016. The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 December 2016.
  128. News: Christian lobby groups claim 'radical sexual experimentation' is being promoted in schools . 25 July 2015. News Ltd. 20 August 2015.
  129. News: Safe Schools program ordered to stay silent on gay marriage . Cook Herietta. 28 July 2015. The Age. 20 August 2015.
  130. Web site: ACL says school anti-bullying program 'encouraging cross dressing'. Brisbane Times. 28 July 2015 .
  131. Web site: Christian lobby boycotts gay student program. The Age. 19 December 2014 .
  132. News: Submission to the Senate Economic References Committee on the Inquiry into Third Party Certification of Food: Submission No. 1395 . July 2015 . Senate Standing Committees on Economics, Third party certification of food. 17 December 2016.
  133. 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'
  134. Web site: Wilkie threat to vote against 'weak' pokie reform bill. Richard Willingham. 29 February 2012. SMH. 1 March 2012.
  135. News: Federal Group, ACL and Walsh gambling on parliamentary hearings . Beniuk, David. 29 January 2017. The Mercury. 24 April 2017.
  136. News: Laws banning gambling advertising in Australia during live sporting events a "welcome first step", says Australian Christian Lobby . Adams, David. 20 April 2017. Sight Magazine. 24 April 2017.
  137. Web site: Inquiry into the Prostitution Act 1992 . ACT Legislative Assembly–Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety . February 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120425174319/http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/downloads/reports/JACS09%20Prostitution%20Act.pdf . 25 April 2012.
  138. News: We need a less polarising debate about sex work laws . Gilmore, Jane. 13 April 2016. Daily Life. 11 April 2017.
  139. News: Australian Christian Lobby again urges state governments to adopt 'Nordic approach' to prostitution in light of Scottish support. Adams, David. 21 March 2017. Sight Magazine. 11 April 2017.
  140. Web site: Johnson. Carol. Maddox. Marrion. Talk of same-sex marriage impinging on religious freedom is misconceived: here's why. The Conversation. 27 August 2017 . 1 October 2017.

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