Australian Muslim Voter Guide – Federal Election 2013

Family – Marriage

Marriage is defined in the Marriage Act as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life. Both houses of federal parliament overwhelmingly rejected a bill to redefine marriage in September 2012.

What will your party do to protect the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman?

• The Rudd Labor Government believes that all people are entitled to respect, dignity and the opportunity to participate fully in society regardless of their sexuality.
• When the issue of same sex marriage has previously been considered by Parliament, Federal Labor has allowed each MP and Senator a conscience vote according to their own personal views.
• This reflects the fact that people of good will can hold different positions on this fundamental matter.

• Marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman. Family First is committed to promoting policies that support marriage and hold families together.
• Family First will oppose any legislation it considers will harm or diminish the institution of marriage.

• The Coalition policy supports the current definition of marriage contained in the Marriage Act.
• Any change to the policy would be a matter for the Party Room in the future, as is the case with all policies.
• Tony Abbott supports the existing definition of marriage.

• Our Party supports marriage as being between 1 man and 1 woman in a union for life.
• We would repeal and/or oppose any bill that would seek to change that position.

• Absolutely everything within its power including providing education and information about the dangers or re-defining marriage and deliberately depriving a child the opportunity of both a mum and a dad

• Marriage is between a man and a woman only

Family – Parenting

Paid Parental Leave schemes allow a parent to take the necessary time to care for new children while retaining a place in the work force. However they are inequitable to a parent who chooses to care for children at home.

What will your party do to redress this inequity?

• Federal Labor has delivered Australia’s first national Paid Parental Leave scheme. This has already benefited more than 300,000 families and for many low paid, casual and part time workers, is the first time they have had this support.
• Families who are not eligible for Paid Parental Leave may be able to access the Baby Bonus (until March 2014) or a new increase to FTB Part A payments called the ‘newborn supplement’.
• Family Tax Benefit Part B is also available for families where one parent is not in paid employment. These payments are not available for families who get paid parental leave.

• Family First demands equal treatment for all mothers. Whether you’re in the paid workforce or not should not matter. Once the baby arrives all mothers are doing the same job – staying at home and looking after their new-born babies.
• By calling paid parental leave a ‘workplace entitlement’, what the major parties are basically saying is ‘women who have chosen to stay at home are not working, they are unemployed’. Family First rejects that. These mothers are not ‘unemployed’, they are professional mothers and carers. They are career mothers.
• To achieve good social and economic policy, we must first emphasize the equity of ensuring all new mothers are treated the same. Once that is established, we can move onto the next important challenge – responsible fiscal policy ie ‘how much to give them’.

• The Coalition recognises the important contribution that parents who choose to care for their children at home make to their families and to our community. We will always be a strong advocate for stay-at-home parents.
• During the term of the Howard Government, the Coalition introduced a number of important measures to provide greater support to families with parents who choose to care for their children at home, including the Family Tax Benefit Part B payment and the Baby Bonus. These reforms ushered in a new and generous era of family assistance in Australia which continues to benefit families today, and we are proud of our achievements in this area.

• Both working and stay at home mothers deserve access to the same financial assistance to bring up their children

• Equity for all

Education – The National curriculum

It is important that school children have a balanced understanding of Australian history. However, the new National Curriculum all but ignores the transformative impact of Christianity on Western Civilisation.

How will your party correct this imbalance?

The Bible is the most printed and translated literary work in history. What will your party do to give the Bible adequate attention in the national curriculum?

• Reintroduce balanced curriculum
• Support School Chaplains

• Since the first draft of the national curriculum, the Coalition has been calling for it to give appropriate weight to our Western and Judaeo-Christian heritage as a nation. It has improved since the first draft, but the Coalition does not view the curriculum as a static document and we will continue to review it if elected.

• It is appropriate that children in both public and private schools learn the historical background and story of the Bible.
• It is impossible to understand the history of our Western civilisation without a deep appreciation for the teachings of Christianity. For this reason, Family First supports the teaching of our Christian heritage in our schools.

At Family First we are committed to choice in education. We believe that both public and private schools must be adequately resourced to enable the delivery of high quality education and to ensure that the rights of parents to choose is respected and supported.

Many great organisations and political movements – the abolition of slavery, the civil rights movement, public education started in churches. Motivated by a sense of concern for others, people of goodwill established schools, hospitals, welfare agencies and many other lasting endeavours.

Family First began the same way. And as you no longer have to be a member of a particular denomination to be admitted to these hospitals, schools or retirement villages, so it is with Family First. And whilst our Christian heritage is something we are both proud of and grateful for, Family First today is independent of any church or denomination.

In the above schools, hospitals and aged care examples, the focus is on the best medicine, the best education, the best aged care. Family First works on the same principles.

• The implementation of the Australian Curriculum is an historic education reform for Australia. The Australian Curriculum has been developed by the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA) following broad consultation with teachers, principals, professional teaching associations, parents as well as the broader community through a range of public consultation sessions.
• For the first time, students across Australia will be studying the same curriculum in English, maths, science, history, geography and the Arts. With work well underway on developing the curriculum for Chinese, Italian, health and physical education, civics and citizenship, technologies and economics and business.
• The Australian Curriculum content currently being implemented throughout Australian schools has been endorsed by every State and Territory.

• The LDP agrees the positive influence of Christianity on society is not always explained adequately in schools.
• However, the LDP does not support a National Curriculum. It believes schools should be self-governing or privately operated and free to determine their own curricula, subject to national standards and performance monitoring.
• The role of the bible should be a matter for schools to decide.

Prayer in parliament

Australia’s western, liberal democracy owes much to its Christian heritage.

Will your party commit to continue opening parliament each day exclusively with the Lord’s Prayer?

•  YES

• Yes

• No
• The LDP believes in the separation of church and state.
• Prayer is a private matter. There is no justification for making prayers in parliament obligatory.

• The Rudd Labor Government has no intention of changing the current practice whereby Parliament opens with the Lord’s Prayer.

• The Coalition remains firmly committed to Parliament opening each day with the lord’s Prayer.
• The Coalition recognises the significant influence that Judaeo-Christian principles have had on the character and ethos of Australian society.
• The Coalition believes the Australian Parliament should represent the society it seeks to serve, and that offering the lord’s Prayer each day prior to its commencement is an appropriate way to do so.

Unemployment

Youth unemployment has remained at around 25 percent since 2009. How will your party create more meaningful jobs for young people?

Will your party support the recommended $50 a week increase to Newstart?

• Support establishment of TAFES
• Encourage more apprentices

• The Coalition believes the best form of welfare is a job. If elected, we will take seriously the principle of mutual obligation that has been severely compromised by Labor. The Coalition is determined to have a social security system which encourages people to work, not stay on welfare.
• The Coalition will encourage unemployed young people to get back into the workforce, particularly in those areas where unskilled jobs are readily available. A Coalition Government will generate one million new jobs over the next five years and two million new jobs over the next decade as we unleash Australia’s real economic potential, modernise our businesses and industries as well as transform to a stronger and more prosperous economy.
• The Coalition has no plans to make changes to the Newstart Allowance. This is significant because the Coalition will repeal the carbon tax while leaving fortnightly pension and benefit increases intact. This means that Newstart recipients will receive a boost to their standard of living because they will keep compensation provided for the carbon tax while the tax itself is repealed. If elected, the Coalition will monitor the level of income support payments, though our first priority will be to get the Budget back under control, cut waste and start reducing debt.

• Australia needs a political party which understands business and how markets work; how and why investment decisions are made; how real jobs are created; and that ‘barriers to entry’ to getting a job causes unemployment.
• The tragedy of workplace regulation is that while it seeks to protect the interests of those who have a job it effectively keeps out those who do not. Accordingly, Family First is committed to removing the ‘barriers to entry’ to getting a job or working more hours.
• Pricing people out of the job market denies them the opportunity to buy a house and lead a happy and prosperous life. This is not just bad for the economy it is morally wrong.

• Meaningful job creation requires the stimulation of the economy. AC would support measures that achieve this without impacting adversely on the family.
• AC believes income splitting for tax purposes could allow more women to be stay at home mums, providing more employment opportunities

• NO

• Federal Labor has worked hard to protect jobs and support families in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. Since coming to office Federal Labor has created more than 966,000 jobs.
• The Rudd Labor Government is aware that youth unemployment remains a challenge. Federal Labor is acting to address youth unemployment with a record investment of over $19 billion in skills funding. In addition, under the Building Australia’s Future Workforce young people are able to double the amount they can earn before their income support payments are affected.
• Federal Labor remains committed to ensuring Newstart Allowance recipients are supported in their endeavours to become self-reliant through employment and announced a number of budget measures in the 2013 14 Budget. Including an increase from $62 to $100 a fortnight of the Income Free Area for Newstart Allowance and other similar payments; an extension of the Pensioner Education Supplement to provide extra financial assistance to single principal carers on Newstart Allowance who choose to undertake study; and an extension of the pensioner concession card for an extra 12 weeks for parents ceasing Parenting Payment Single.

• There are a number of structural changes needed to make more jobs available to anyone, let alone the youth, as we are losing jobs at a rapid rate due to the loss of jobs overseas and we need to first rein in this problem with a number of structural changes.
• The numbers of unemployed need to be more carefully compiled so as to reflect not only those on benefit but also not on benefit.
• Job creation numbers need to also be more carefully complied so as to reflect a new position in the community and not just people changing jobs as it currently done.

Homelessness and housing affordability

Roughly 105,000 Australians are homeless on any given night. According to Anglicare, less than one percent of private rental dwellings in Sydney and the Illawarra are affordable for people on low incomes. A similar crisis of affordability exists in other cities.

How will your party tackle homelessness and housing affordability?

• The Rudd Labor Government is committed to reducing cost of living pressures and improving access to affordable housing for families on low and moderate incomes.
• Since coming to office Federal Labor has invested a record $26 billion in a broad ranging and innovative affordable housing agenda. Through this investment the Australian Government has directly contributed to one in every twenty new homes built across the country.
• Federal Labor also continues to invest in affordable housing through the $4.5 billion National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) to stimulate the supply of up to 50,000 new, more affordable rental dwellings by June 2016.

• Seek to tackle drug dependency issues through drug courts and seeking recovery.
• Seek to tackle anti-social behaviour with a strong restorative justice program.
• Increase Government housing stock by selling to long term renters so rental stock is continually renewed.
• Establish training programs on debt management and family management.
• Establishing training programs for newly unemployed people to up skill for new employment opportunities.

• Tax cuts & welfare reform to increase growth and reduce poverty
• Remove the minimum wage to solve unemployment
• Relaxation of zoning laws to allow more property development
• Reduction in green and red tape restricting housing development

• For more than 60 years the average family in most western countries was able to buy its first home on one wage. The median house price was around three times the median income.  In 2013, in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, the median house price is now more than six times the median income and in Sydney and Perth it is nearly ten times.
• As anyone contemplating building a new house has discovered, the actual cost of building a new house is incredibly low. It hasn’t changed much in 30 years. The price of land on which to the build the house however has skyrocketed.
• Studies have shown a direct connection between housing costs and family formation. The obsession with urban densification by State Governments, urban planners and environmentalists has represented an all-out assault on the aspirations of most families. In simple terms, higher house prices mean fewer children.

While governments embraced the opportunity to make huge profits by stifling the release of land and then drip-feeding it out at massively inflated prices, they were also responding to a wider ideological agenda driven by a powerful planning community that sought to curb the size of our cities. ‘Urban consolidation’ or ‘Urban Densification’ became the new mantra.

What has not been discussed is the impact that huge amounts of household income going into overpriced housing is having on our economy. That household income should be going into other sectors of the economy.

• The Coalition recognises the shortage of housing in Australia, including its impact on people on a low income, and will address the causes of reduced housing affordability by seeking to diminish the barriers to an efficient and responsive housing market. A particular priority will be to encourage State governments to follow reasonable land release policies without hidden taxes and charges on land.
• The Coalition will repeal the carbon tax, which will reduce new housing costs by at least $3,800.
• The Coalition will address homelessness by tackling housing cost pressures that push families into homelessness and reforming the way government deals with homelessness service providers, streamlining services and cutting red tape.

The Coalition’s commitment to cutting red and green tape by $1 billion every year across the economy will help reduce the cost of construction, making new housing more affordable.

Restoring the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) will prevent industrial problems from causing additional costs and delays. By keeping disputes to a minimum the ABCC helped to increase productivity and lower construction costs around Australia.

The Coalition’s plan to combat homelessness focuses on actions, rather than rhetoric. We believe that the Federal Government has a role in working with the States and Territories to be more active in addressing homelessness and problems in social housing.

Following the 2007 election, Kevin Rudd promised to halve homelessness by 2020. However, under the Labor Government, the housing shortage has increased to 228,000, rents have risen by more than 30 per cent and homelessness has increased by 17 per cent.

The current government has also failed to reach its interim target of reducing homelessness by 7 per cent by 1 July 2013 as foreshadowed in a recent report from the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO). Furthermore, the Government left homelessness services and homeless people in limbo for months before finally committing a last minute patch-up deal to fund the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) until July 2014. They have offered no certainty beyond that.

The Coalition is committed to combating the many complex causes of homelessness, supporting homeless Australians with real, practical assistance and preventing even more Australians from falling into homelessness.

• Up to 40% of the cost of building a house is state & federal taxes.
• Government should provide taxation offset to developers who provide low cost housing
• Tax rebates could be offered to first home builders.

• Release more residential land
• Support Charitable Institutions
• Make housing more affordable

Rise Up Australia Party (RUAP) will try to eliminate homelessness and deficiencies in aged-care by a variety of policies, including making low-cost housing more affordable by, inter alia, releasing more residential land, providing more jobs in rural/regional areas, and by substantially assisting the existing support agencies (such as Salvation Army etc) to provide low-cost communal housing and rehabilitation/job-training services.

Treatment of charities and not-for-profits

Churches, charities and schools help build stronger communities and provide a social safety net. Often this work saves taxpayers’ money.

Will your party support continuing the presumption of public benefit for not-for-profits and churches for tax purposes?

• Federal Labor is committed to supporting a strong, vibrant and diverse not-for-profit sector, and recently passed legislation to introduce a statutory definition of charity.
• This legislation specifies that there is a presumption of public benefit for a number of charitable purposes. These purposes include advancing religion; advancing education; preventing and relieving sickness, disease or human suffering; relieving the poverty, distress or disadvantage of individuals or families; and caring for and supporting the aged or individuals with disabilities. Advancement of religion is a category of charitable purpose that churches are generally registered under.
• Registration as a charity is a prerequisite to accessing various tax concessions, and the statutory definition will commence on 1 January 2014.

• The LDP supports a society that fosters individual responsibility and civic institutions in preference to government funded welfare.

• Yes. Family First supports the retention of tax concessions for church and faith-based charities.
• Income tax, company tax, payroll tax, petrol tax, goods & services tax (GST), carbon tax, mining tax, the Medicare levy, the emergency services levy, the River Murray levy. Governments – State and Federal, tax us at every turn.
• The capacity of politicians and public servants to spend our taxes knows no bounds. If the Australian tax system is to offer incentives to be productive, to expand activities, to shift from welfare to work, to pay tax and invest in the future then it must be simple, flat and, in the eyes of taxpayers, a fair system.

• The Coalition believes that Australian charities and not-for-profit organisations strengthen our nation through their contribution to communities right across Australia. Australian not-for-profits lend a helping hand to those in need and make our country a better place through education, volunteer, sports, arts, and welfare organisations.
• If elected, the Coalition will repeal Labor’s new statutory definition of charity and return to the common law definition as it operated prior to the passage of the Charities Act 2013.

•  YES

• Yes

Problem gambling

The social harm of poker machines is undisputed. Each year 95,000 problem gamblers lose about $5 billion on poker machines alone.

What will your party do to curb their use?

Will your party support the introduction of $1 bets as recommended by the Productivity Commission?

• The Rudd Labor Government knows that problem gambling can have a devastating impact on people’s lives and more must be done to help tackle problem gambling.
• That is why the Government implemented the first ever national reforms to address the harm from poker machines. These reforms include pre-commitment technology and warnings on every poker machine, $250 daily withdrawal limits from ATMs in gaming venues, and financial counselling services for problem gamblers.
• The Rudd Labor Government supports the advice of the Productivity Commission that “pre-commitment is a strong, practicable and ultimately cost-effective option for harm minimisation” of poker machines.

• We support the curbing of the use of poker machines, including their advertising and the visibility to young and impressionable eyes.
• We support the separation of alcohol and gambling, as studies show intoxicated people will be more prone to gamble all they have available to them.
• We also support the $1 bets limits.

• The LDP neither supports nor opposes gambling. It considers it to be like any other form of entertainment – a matter of choice for responsible adults.
• The LDP will not ban or place restrictions on any individual’s gambling unless they seek it themselves or lack the capacity to make a rational decision to participate.

• Family First support legislation which will result in the health, wellbeing, welfare, safety and unity of families in Australia. Family First supports limits on ATM withdrawals, increased funding for gambler’s help services and lower betting limits.
• Yes, Family First supports the introduction of $1 bets.

• The Coalition believes problem gambling is an issue that must be addressed, but government action must be proportionate to the problem, effectively target the problem and not be done in ways that damage important community institutions including clubs. The Coalition believes more needs to be done to provide opportunities for counselling to ensure we don’t see more problem gambling in new areas such as online.
• The Coalition does not support mandatory pre-commitment, but we support voluntary pre-commitment accompanied by appropriate counselling and support services. Under mandatory pre-commitment, a problem gambler would be able to set as high a limit as they choose. It would impose high establishment costs for community clubs and it would not prevent problem gamblers simply turning to other forms of gambling (such as horse racing). The Coalition believes we must address the fundamental issue of problem gambling. We do not believe mandatory precommitment would solve the problem it is seeking to address.
• The Coalition does not support the introduction of $1 bets as this limit doesn’t mean problem gamblers will spend less. They will just spend more time away from families and work while gambling on poker machines, and will turn to other forms of potentially more harmful gambling, including online gambling. The Coalition will introduce effective measures to actually address problem gambling, such as additional, better equipped and more effective counselling and support services for problem gamblers.

One of the fastest growing places to gamble is online. The Coalition appreciates there are serious community concerns surrounding the promotion of live online odds during the broadcast of sporting events on television and radio, particularly as it can expose children to gambling. We want Australian children to know what a lineout, wicket, scrum, goal, basket or mark is long before they know what the odds are in a game.

The Coalition has called on the broadcasting industry to act to limit advertising and we welcome the steps they have already taken to limit promotions and advertising. We will continue to monitor the broadcasters’ standards and practices to ensure they meet community expectations.

• Place a moratorium on any new poker machine licenses
• Continue support for WA governments ban on Poker machines

Will your party support the introduction of $1 bets as recommended by the Productivity Commission?

• YES

• Yes

Environment  – Sustainability

We have an obligation to be good stewards of our natural environment.

How will your party work towards a sustainable future for the generations to come?

• Australian Christians believes that environmental issues are important because the environment is God-given and sustains life.
• Humans have an obligation to responsibly manage the environment and to mitigate, where feasible, environmental change and pollution.
• The following are 10 Key Aims which form the basis of our long-term Environmental Policy.

• Expand scientific research
• Manage wisely

• WE believe God has instructed us to look after the planet and so we take this call seriously.
• We will do our best to cut down what we use, to recycle all that is possible, encourage sustainable industries and products.
• Encourage the full rehabilitation of degraded land because of mining or other activities.
• Encourage the planting of at least two trees per person per year.
• To implement a policy if it cannot be done safely for the environment, the people and the nation then we do not do it.
• We will protect our water ways both above and below ground from pollution.

• The Rudd Labor Government is taking action to protect and conserve our environment and preserve the Australian way of life. The Rudd Labor Government is protecting environment for the long-term – our actions and reforms deal effectively with real problems – We have a full package of measures that are responsible, practical and affordable.
• Since taking office, Federal Labor has implemented important reforms to safeguard Australia’s unique environment. This includes finalising a national Plan for the Murray Darling Basin that will restores our rivers to health, completing a network of marine reserves protecting some of Australia’s unique ocean habitats and investing more than $2 billion to help volunteer and community organisations to protect Australia’s natural environment.
• Only Labor is acting on climate change. Federal Labor’s emissions trading scheme, Renewable Energy Target, Australian Renewable Energy Agency and $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation are all designed to work together to drive significant renewable energy investment in Australia. Since Federal Labor came to power, direct employment in the renewable energy industry has more than doubled to over 24,000. Wind capacity has almost trebled to over 3,000 MW and 1 million solar PV systems have been installed – up from just over 7,400 under the Howard Government.

• The Coalition will take direct action to reduce carbon emissions and establish a 15,000-strong Green Army charged with the clean-up and conservation of our environment, so that we can all enjoy a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future.
• The Coalition’s direct action plan will reduce carbon emissions in a practical, affordable way inside Australia, not overseas. The Coalition remains committed to a five per cent reduction in emissions by 2020.
• The Coalition, if elected, will also enhance Australia’s national water supplies and reduce Australia’s reliance on energy-hungry desalination plants. We will restore the Murray-Darling to health while still ensuring the viability of Australia’s food producing communities. We will also start the detailed long-term planning necessary to build new dams to secure the nation’s water supplies into the future and deliver strong economic benefits for Australia, while also protecting our environment. As part ofthe Coalition’s commitment to produce a White Paper on the Development of Northern Australia, we will investigate options to support the advancement of meritorious proposals for water infrastructure across Northern Australia, including dams and groundwater projects.

The Coalition will adopt a practical, balanced and sustainable approach to environmental issues based on linking sound scientific findings with the needs of all users resulting in more sustainable commercial activities and better environmental outcomes.

• Family First opposes the carbon tax and renewable energy targets. We believe it is grossly irresponsible to proceed with these policies that involve major changes to the Australian economy without a proper, independent enquiry eg a Royal Commission, to explore the scientific, social, environmental and economic impact of such a change.
• Water is one of the most important challenges facing our country. The water we drink, the food we eat and the health and sustainability of our river systems are of vital interest to all Australians. Family First believes Australian families are entitled to get clean water out of the tap at prices that do not burden low and middle income households.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

In 2006, laws were passed allowing the cloning and destruction of human embryos for medical research. Embryonic stem cell research has not succeeded, but scientists have been able to use adult stem cells to achieve the same purpose, avoiding the ethical concerns.

Will your party support a review of laws allowing the cloning and destruction of human embryos?

•  Yes

• The Rudd Labor Government supports the Commonwealth Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act (PHCR Act) and Research Involving Human Embryos Act (RIHE Act).
• These Acts were developed to address community concerns, including ethical concerns, about scientific developments in relation to human reproduction and the utilisation of human embryos in research.
• This legislation prohibits human cloning for reproductive purposes and regulates a range of other practices relating to reproductive technology, including use of embryos in research.

• The laws passed in 2006 to permit embryonic cloning were the subject of a conscience vote within the Federal Parliament. The Coalition does not propose to change legislation in regard to cloning.

• No
• The LDP supports scientific freedom and opposes unnecessary government restrictions on the evolution of science and technology.

• Induced pluripotent stem cell has made the need for stem cell research on aborted embryos unnecessary.
• It is therefore morally imperative that any laws relating to embryonic stem cell research be reconsidered.

• We are committed to abolishing the right to do embryonic stem cell research as we believe all that can be done with embryonic stem cells can be done with adult stem cells.
• If the adult stem cell research is successful the assumed medical recovery would produce better outcomes without a future anti-rejection drug program.
• As well we strongly oppose the creating of life and the destruction of that life, as is necessary with the embryonic stem cell program.

Unless someone totally accepts that principle they cannot be a member of the DLP.

Abortion

Data from the Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (Victoria) shows that in 2009 42 out of 196 babies who were aborted for “abnormalities” survived abortions but died neo-natally. It also shows that in 2009 that more than 200 late-term abortions were performed on healthy, viable babies because of maternal psychosocial reasons when there was a healthy mother and healthy baby.

Will your party support removing Medicare funding for abortions carried out on babies who are viable outside the womb?

Will your party support a ban on Medicare funding for abortions for the purpose of sex-selection?

• YES
• YES

• There are two Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items which could be used to provide Medicare rebates for the surgical termination of pregnancy.
• These items are not specific to termination of pregnancy and are used for operations to the uterus when performed for other reasons including miscarriage.
• The Department of Health and Ageing is not aware of any evidence that suggests that abortions are being performed in Australia for sex selection purposes.

• Yes
• Yes

• Members of the Coalition will always be afforded a conscience vote on abortion.
• As Minister for Health in the Howard Government, Tony Abbott introduced a pregnancy support hotline to help women with unintended pregnancies, and the Coalition strongly believes in the importance of making such support available to women.
• The Coalition does not intend to make changes to the laws concerning abortion.

• The LDP believes in individual choice
• We oppose government funding for abortions or counselling
• We oppose government campaigns for or against abortion

• Family First believes life is precious and is committed to healing, caring for and saving lives wherever possible.
• Yes, Family First will support removing Medicare funding for abortions carried out on babies who are viable outside the womb.
• Yes, Family First will support a ban on Medicare funding for abortions for the purpose of sex-selection.
• Family First calls for more information to be made available to pregnant women considering an abortion re alternatives to abortion.

Abortion Data

It is estimated that about 80,000-100,000 abortions are performed in Australia each year, but obtaining accurate figures is difficult because most states do not collect abortion data. What will your party do to obtain more accurate and complete abortion data in line with the cross-party recommendation of the 2008 Senate inquiry into the Health Insurance Regulations?

• AC would campaign to have detailed information kept on abortion procedures as it is for any other medical procedure.

• As part of the 2009-10 Improving Maternity Services Budget Package, Federal Labor provided funding to improve maternity data collections in Australia, and as part of the negotiations over the National Maternity Services Plan, an agreement was reached with States and Territories to improve the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set.
• In 2013 the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare published a report on compliance by jurisdictions with the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set specifications. The report found that compliance had improved for the period 2006 to 2009, with all states and territories using the national standard definition, domain values and provided data for greater than 99.5% of records in scope for 11 data elements.
• The recommendations and response of this Report make it clear that responsibility for collecting data on pregnancy terminations rests with the States and Territories.

• Record and Report

• Concerns about the lack of data on abortions in Australia have previously been expressed in a Report ofthe Senate’s Finance and Public Administration Committee in November 2008, with the Committee making the recommendation that all States and Territories work through the Australian Health Ministers Conference to provide complete and uniform data for the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set.
• The Coalition supports the current Government’s response to this Report, which included extra funding over four years for improved data collections as part of the Improving Maternity Data Services Budget Package 2009-10.

• As we oppose abortion, we would expect a close to zero figure and we would see what powers under the constitution that would not prevent the Federal Government from knowing the exact figures of abortions.
• If necessary we would have to compel such information to be made available if we cannot get a voluntary agreement from each of the states to produce the information.

Indigenous welfare

Social justice for indigenous people remains a major issue.

What initiatives and policies will your party introduce to ensure not only better health, housing, education and employment opportunities for indigenous Australians, but also to facilitate long-term social inclusion and a sense of hope and purpose?

What will your party do during the next term of parliament to specifically address these goals?

• Allowing more conciliation with indigenous groups regarding housing
• Support initiatives like that provided by Fortescue metals to provide apprenticeships and training and ultimately jobs in the mining sector

• The Rudd Labor Government is committed to driving a national effort to close the gap in life expectancy and opportunities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
• That’s why we made the National Apology on behalf of the Australian Parliament to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations and have made unprecedented investments to improve health, housing, education, employment and essential services.
• The Rudd Labor Government will continue to press forward reform to close the gap and expand opportunities for all Indigenous Australians.

• The Coalition believes that engagement with Indigenous issues should begin at the top of government. A Coalition Government will elevate the Indigenous affairs portfolio to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
• If elected as Prime Minister, Tony Abbott will continue to spend one week each year living and working in a remote Aboriginal community, absorbed in the real life of Aboriginal people.
• The Coalition will also establish the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council to help ensure that the Australian Government’s Indigenous programmes achieve real, positive change in the lives of Indigenous people and will inform the policy implementation of a new Coalition Government. The Council will by chaired by Warren Mundine and include Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with a broad range of skills including experience in the public sector, business acumen, and a strong understanding of Indigenous culture.
• The Coalition believes an acknowledgement of Indigenous people as the first Australians would complete our Constitution rather than change it. The key objective of any referendum would be to achieve a unifying moment for the nation similar to that achieved by the 1967 constitutional referendum. Within 12 months of taking office, an incoming Coalition Government would put forward a draft amendment and establish a bipartisan process to assess its chances of success. We would also support the repeal of obsolete racially discriminatory provisions.
• A Coalition Government will create job opportunities for up to 5,000 Indigenous Australians by providing up to $45 million to support the GenerationOne employment model.

Indigenous people will be at the heart of a Coalition government in word and deed. The Coalition understands that education and employment are the pathways to prosperity and well-being for all Australians.

A Coalition Government will accelerate action to replace the inaction of the labor Government on Indigenous affairs. We will end labor’s overly bureaucratic processes and deliver the support and infrastructure that Indigenous Australians were promised but failed to receive under Labor.

Providing opportunities for Indigenous Australians requires pragmatic, ‘on the ground’ solutions – not the spin and empty rhetoric of labor. The Coalition will seek to empower Aboriginal people to take their future into their own hands.

• We believe having the Department managing an exclusive ethnic or cultural group of people is a form of apartheid.
• We would enquire into a program to disband the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and give the role of assisting any peoples or culture groups via the Minister for Home Affairs so that a balance treatment is seen to happen to all groups within Australia.
• Via the department of Home affairs if a chronic deficiency was found to happen in any of the areas of housing, education, health, addictive behaviour, anti-social behaviour, criminal activity and/or unemployment issues then culturally sensitive assistance as is required will be granted to overcome the deficiency.

• The LDP believes all people should be treated equally by the government, irrespective of their race
• The best policies for Aboriginal Australians is the same as the best policy for non-Aboriginal Australians – low tax, low regulation, secure private property rights and trade.

• Address their spiritual needs
• Meet with the people

• Australians have a right to live in a country free from racial discrimination and racial preference. It is the duty of government to protect that right.
• If a person needs assistance, their race or ethnicity should be irrelevant.