Tonight, the leaders of Australia’s two main political parties will square off in a nationally broadcast debate that will discuss issues likely to dominate political debate in the lead up to this year’s federal election.
Sounds like something you’d like to watch?
Unfortunately, Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott will be specifically addressing the Christian voter and only churches and Christian organisations will be able to register for the webcast.
Because you see, the debate has been organised by the ever vigilant guardians of decency and morality at the Australian Christian Lobby, and they don’t want any of you fucking baby-killing, drug addicted poofs to see it. Get your own private leaders debate.
The event is being held in Canberra and being broadcast via a Webcast to church groups and Christian organisations only. And fair enough, I think Christians should get their own private leaders debate. I’m sure the same courtesy will be extended to Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist Australians when the time comes…
It’s not like they will be talking about things that are going to affect all Australians or anything. I’m sure they will only be talking about personal religious issues, right?
Parliament’s highest profile Christians will be quizzed on everything from asylum seekers to abortion, pornography and the sexualisation of children.
Their commitment to the national schools chaplaincy program will also be questioned, with funding for the initiative due to wind up at the end of next year.
Oh, God Damn It!
I’m sure they will talk about the other Christian issues mentioned on the ACL website too too, like gay marriage, video game classification, paid parental leave and internet filtering. All exclusively Christian issues; the rest of Australia has no place involving themselves in these issues which clearly only concern Christians.
However, if you godless heathens do feel like listening in on the debate, the ACL has been kind enough to list the churches that will be streaming the webcast here. Maybe you can even repent your sins while you are there.
#1 by David Johnston on 21 June 2010 - 9:08 am
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Thank Christ we don’t have to see the pathetic sight of Australias two most hypocritical “Christians” sucking up to the religious voters. This event will be the height of sanctimonious bull.
Not much chance the churchs pedophiles will be discussed.
#2 by reb on 21 June 2010 - 9:23 am
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I heard about this broadcast on ABC news radio this morning. And then did a google search to find out how I could tune in to the web cast this evening.
My sorry heathen ass was both shocked and disturbed to find that I had to be a registered church going God-botherer to be privvy to the conversation.
It’s a disgrace!!!
#3 by Spock... on 21 June 2010 - 9:29 am
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I’m sure pedophile priests won’t be mentioned.
And I find it astonishing that our politicians spend so much time pandering to people like Catch The Fire Ministries (who will be privy to tonight’s broadcast) and then neglect the rest of us.
#4 by Scott Bridges on 21 June 2010 - 9:51 am
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When will childless atheists in their 30s get a private leaders debate?
#5 by Spock... on 21 June 2010 - 10:00 am
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I don’t know, Scott. But it can’t come soon enough.
Latte quality and price issues are not being given enough attention by our political leaders.
#6 by James Turnbull on 21 June 2010 - 10:40 am
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Damn right Spock.
The thirty-something hipster vote is a powerful force. We care about the real issues – bad coffee, the limited numbers of hip brunch venues, the death of the inner suburban hipster pub, over-regulation of fixed gear bikes, and the shrinking supply of vintage clothes.
Unless someone tackles these issues, the big issues, I fear for the future of our democracy.
#7 by David Johnston on 21 June 2010 - 10:55 am
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Should the North NSW Coastal Heathens & Devil Worshippers demand equal time from the PM & Abbott?
What about the flat Earthers and/or the Easter Bunny believers? Not enough votes from these people?
The Committee Regarding Apathetic People ( Australia) were going to ask for their group to be part of this, but….they didn’t get around to it.
#8 by Spock... on 21 June 2010 - 10:55 am
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When, oh when will these big issues be addressed by our leaders?
#9 by Spock... on 21 June 2010 - 10:57 am
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I believe the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster have asked for the leader’s time but are still awaiting a response.
#10 by Cassie ST on 21 June 2010 - 12:03 pm
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Just remember who got Guy Sebastian across the line in Australian Idol. ;-)
#11 by Molesworth on 21 June 2010 - 12:11 pm
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I would love to see Kevin Rudd’s Muslim Address. It would be right after his Address To Citizens Of Glob 5.
#12 by Scott Bridges on 21 June 2010 - 12:25 pm
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Why are all the comment timestamps screwy? Who’s running this amateur blog?
#13 by Martin Pribble on 21 June 2010 - 12:27 pm
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I’m going to vote for…. fuck it who am I kidding? I’m gonna move to Israel…
#14 by Shannon on 21 June 2010 - 12:32 pm
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$2 to the first person to hijack and re-broadcast the stream :D
#15 by Spock... on 21 June 2010 - 1:01 pm
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Whatever reason the time stamps have for being screwy, I’m sure it’s not my fault. Nothing is ever my fault. Ever.
#16 by Shayne on 21 June 2010 - 2:59 pm
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So if you are childless in your 30s you are a non-entity?
#17 by Leia on 21 June 2010 - 4:55 pm
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I will be snuggled in my Tauntaun sleeping bag listening when they address the Jedis next week. I am waiting to here Abbott say “I am your father…”
#18 by Spock... on 21 June 2010 - 6:02 pm
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I’m not saying all childless 30s are a non entity. Just the latte sipping, elitist, hipster pinkos like Scott.
Of course childless 30s aren’t a non entity. But in Australian politics they are very rarely addressed by the political parties and sometimes they can appear to be.
All the rhetoric is addressed towards “working families” and “mum and dad shareholders” for example.
#19 by The Monkey Boy on 21 June 2010 - 7:36 pm
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I thought the 2007 John Howard/Kevin Rudd thing was a stupid once-off but I guess I was wrong.
It makes me feel uneasy that the government I vote for can be influenced and sucks up to a, or any, religion even though this country has no state religion. Either do the same talk for every other religious lobby or none at all. Keeps things fair and equal. Never in my (short) voting years have I seriously considered voting for a minor party until now. (Hi Fiona!).
This whole thing is sponsored by Gloria Jeans too? Fuck. I really like their vanilla lattes.
#20 by Gibbot on 21 June 2010 - 8:56 pm
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It’s nice to know that Family First voters are given access that is denied to Heathen scum like me. It’s what makes democracy great. We need to remember that there are votes, and then there are votes that matter.
#21 by Suzie on 21 June 2010 - 9:47 pm
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And what about the Jedi Knights? Aren’t they recognised on the census? Doesn’t that mean they should get their own time to ask our illustrious leaders about the issues that affect them?
#22 by kwality on 21 June 2010 - 9:48 pm
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This part on the ACL site scares me a bit -
“…while not all Christians agree on all issues they can nonetheless bring their influence to bear on public policy if organised and professional in doing so.”
So they can’t agree, but they can ‘bring their influence’?
#23 by Fiona Patten on 21 June 2010 - 9:48 pm
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We have of course invited Abbott and Rudd to address Sexpo. Still waiting to hear back
#24 by Eartheo on 21 June 2010 - 9:58 pm
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What’s unsurprising is that it’s sponsored by Gloria Jeans who’s owned by Hillsong & who also donate to conversion communities that turn the gays into straights. Or so they claim…
#25 by Spock... on 21 June 2010 - 11:30 pm
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I am leading a boycott of Gloria Jean’s on account of their ratshit coffee.
#26 by Molesworth on 22 June 2010 - 12:31 am
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Hillsong does not own Gloria Jean’s.
#27 by Spock... on 22 June 2010 - 12:35 am
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Googling it gives me a lot of conflicting informations, who does own Gloria Jean’s?
#28 by Darvo on 22 June 2010 - 12:47 am
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Founded by non-hillsongers, brought to Australia by hillsong, chaired by a hillsong member. Wikipedia says it so it must be true//
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Jeans
#29 by Spock... on 22 June 2010 - 12:52 am
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Oh, this is just too convenient. I can blame Hillsong for the desecration of Christianity, democracy AND coffee.
#30 by Havelclown on 22 June 2010 - 1:32 am
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No separation of Church and State in this country, apparently it’s not important – history repeats………
It’s ironic that the bible they bash prophecies that politics will turn on religion one day.
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#31 by cosmicjester on 22 June 2010 - 9:09 am
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Well they may have tried to make it an exclusive no heathens webcast, but thanks to twitter and the #acl hashtag we were kept up to date in real time.
#32 by jono on 22 June 2010 - 10:46 am
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I became an ‘ordained minister’ yesterday (over the internet no less haha) where do I sign up for the webcast?!?
#33 by Dave's not here, man on 22 June 2010 - 2:20 pm
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Ah yes, that hoary old chestnut of separation of church and state. A bit sticky, since our head of state is also head of our church, which sadly some take as a cue to invest religion in politics.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (you remember her – look at what’s left of the coins in your pocket) is also head of the Church of England. Check out our flag – it’s all crosses up there in the top left-hand corner, one of the few nations that states its religion on its national symbol.
The God-botherers are here and in charge. Want to know how that’ll turn out? Remember George W. Bush? Just thank your lucky stars neither Rudd or Abbott are oil barons.
Christian fundamentalism, religious socialism, exclusivity, censorship, intellectual repression and all the rest of it has no place in a multicultural democracy, and yet here we see it taking over with no alternative (vote one out and exactly the same type will take his place), and there’s nothing you can do about it. Farewell democracy, it was nice knowing you.
Embrace the horror, kids. Or become a pagan and invest in a stadium and some lions. It’s all good.
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#34 by Elksy on 23 June 2010 - 12:11 pm
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Whilst this issue raises many questions, what are we able to do about it? Unfortunately – nothing.
What we need is people power – Give us Aussie’s some input and we’ll be able to tell you where to fined the greatest latte’s of all.
But seriously – this is rubbish – all Australians deserve the right to listen, and stand up for what we believe in. If one religion is given one of those pre-school like Question-Time’s, then we should be able to speak directly to the main parties and we should be able to influence THEM with OUR feedback from recent events and history, and ideas for the future which could be beneficial to all of us as a whole, INCLUDING all of those Christians who have already had their Question-Time.
Plus, we can ask them to import some more varieties of coffee. This would be extremely beneficial, I’m sure, for 90% of Aussies who wake up looking like zombies inthe morning like I do.
#35 by Molesworth on 23 June 2010 - 3:45 pm
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Yes, Gloria Jean’s is owned by members of Hillsong but not by Hillsong itself.
#36 by &rew on 23 June 2010 - 5:04 pm
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it sounds like they are going to put it online:
http://australianchristianlobby.org.au/2010/06/make-it-count-a-great-success/
From all reports it seems they didn’t address the issue of abortion, pornography, internet filtering or video game classification – although Abbott did say something in general about the classification system.
#37 by Spock... on 25 June 2010 - 1:06 pm
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Oh good, thanks for that link.
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#38 by Spock... on 29 June 2010 - 1:20 pm
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I think there is still something concerning that our nation’s politicians addressing only a small portion of the nation.
But of course my main concern was that it was not broadcast or even accessible to non-christians.
#39 by Dumb student on 29 June 2010 - 11:21 pm
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Guys, there’s nothing wrong with a religious debate… but it should be broadcast to the whole country