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POkerMachine

The NSW Government’s proposal that all “gaming machine” players register and preload money onto a government-regulated card that would operate similarly to the state’s cashless Opal cards (which are for public transport) is welcomed with caution. 

NSW gamblers fed a staggering $2.17 billion to poker machines in late 2020 – the highest yearly increase since 2017 according to a latest report.

Gamblers in New South Wales lost millions more to club poker machines in the second half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 confirming FamilyVoice findings that gambling has boomed under COVID-19.

Whilst Church leaders have pleaded with MPs to back the NSW Government's plans for a state-issued gambling card, warning that harm minimisation measures are grossly inadequate, FamilyVoice is urging the government to extend the card proposal to all modes of gambling – racing, casinos, sport betting and on-line gamblers through the establishment of a Repeat Offenders register.

“Targeting only poker machine gambling is a wolf in sheep’s clothing as it will force problem gamblers to alternative gambling options”, said Greg Bondar.

Gambling, whether casinos or other forms, is a serious wealth hazard with a recent report showing that people who bet 3.6% of monthly outgoings were a third more likely to miss a mortgage payment. It is a proven fact that each game one plays at a casino has a statistical probability against that person winning. 

“FamilyVoice is committed to ensuring that families do not suffer additional hardships under COVID-19 which has resulted in job losses, confinement, and unfortunately deaths which has severely impacted the family,” said FamilyVoice Gambling Reform spokesman Greg Bondar.

“Gambling is blatantly anti-family, soul-destroying and harmful.
“When mortgages go unpaid, family violence increases and mental health suffers. 

“We call on all media to stop promoting gambling on radio and TV, especially advertising in peak viewing and listening times,” added Mr Bondar.

Quigley silence article 777

Government silence on 25 born-alive babies left to die after an abortion procedure in Western Australia should alarm every WA political party into calling for a parliamentary inquiry, according to FamilyVoice Australia.

“The WA Coroner made legal recommendations on WA babies left to die after an abortion procedure to the Attorney General John Quigley in January 2020, but nearly a year later Mr Quigley has still not disclosed any of them, or what the Government’s response is,” said FamilyVoice WA Director Darryl Budge.

“Every WA party and candidate who declares that they protect human lives from deadly illnesses must surely rise to ensure defenceless children have not been illegally or improperly treated during or after their birth.

“Queensland MP George Christensen has rightly pointed out that Australia’s laws are in breach of two international agreements to which it is a signatory: The Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“FamilyVoice therefore calls on political parties across Australia to explain on what grounds anyone could not support the principles behind his Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Act 2021 bill.”

The bill provides that the usual duty of medical care or treatment for a child born alive in other circumstances is equally applied to a child born alive during an abortion.

In Queensland, 204 babies were born alive after an abortion procedure from 2005-2015.

The Victorian Health Department reported in 2016 that 33 babies were born alive and then died after surviving an abortion procedure. In 2012 and 2014, the numbers were 53 and 38 respectively.

The WA Health Department has previously published the existence of 27 born-alive babies but revised the figure down to 25 after subsequent investigation of medical records.

“The fact that a cursory document check uncovered inconsistent data further justifies the need for a comprehensive parliamentary inquiry,” Mr Budge said.

“Why has the Attorney General John Quigley and the Health Department not taken any practical or legal action to protect infants born alive, and ensure they are not abandoned and given the maximum care possible?

“Every one of these babies that was expected to die defied all odds and survived induced premature deliveries, yet they were left to die.

“It is beyond time for all political parties and candidates declare their support for an inquiry. Silence on the need to bolster care for defenceless babies is not a legitimate option.

“According to WA Health Department data, there is no record of medical intervention or resuscitation being undertaken in any of the 25 cases.”

According to South Australian Attorney General’s office, a baby that survives an abortion “is wrapped in a blanket and the mother is given the opportunity to hold the baby as it dies.”

euthanasia 800 002

The Catholic Church is warning against a dangerous Tasmanian euthanasia bill.

According to The Australian, Archbishop of Tasmania Julian Porteous and Catholic Health Australia are speaking out against the proposed law:

An 11th-hour push will seek major amendments to Tasmania’s voluntary euthanasia legislation, with Catholic Health Australia warning it will otherwise set a “perilously” flawed precedent other states may follow.

CHA, which operates more than 80 hospitals and hundreds of aged-care centres nationally, has enlisted a QC to prepare amendments to the End-of-Life-Choices bill and is seeking an urgent meeting with Premier Peter Gutwein.

Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteous will also directly intervene in a direct plea to MPs, warning of the threat of “wrongful death” of the vulnerable due to insufficient safeguards.

Archbishop Porteous told The Australian that the public debate so far has not clearly brought to light the full nature of the dangers.

“The possibility that one person might die prematurely as a ­result of this legislation, through family coercion or because they have been given a wrong diagnosis or prognosis, should be sufficient for any reasonable person to reject this bill,” said Archbishop Porteous.

SA abortion how MPs voted 002

The Termination of Pregnancy Bill passed the lower house of SA Parliament on 19 February 2021.

29 MPs voted in favour of the abortion bill and 15 against.

Voted for the abortion bill

Basham, D.K.B., Bedford, F.E., Bettison, Z.L., Bignell, L.W.K., Boyer, B.I., Brown, M.E., Chapman, V.A., Close, S.E., Cook, N.F., Cowdrey, M.J., Gardner, J.A.W., Gee, J.P., Hildyard, K.A., Hughes, E.J., Luethen, P., Malinauskas, P., Marshall, S.S., McBride, N., Odenwalder, L.K., Piccolo, A., Picton, C.J., Pisoni, D.G., Power, C., Sanderson, R., Stinson, J.M., Szakacs, J.K., Treloar, P.A., Wingard, C.L., Wortley, D.

Voted against the abortion bill

Brock, G.G., Cregan, D., Duluk, S., Ellis, F.J., Harvey, R.M., Knoll, S.K., Koutsantonis, A., Michaels, A., Mullighan, S.C., Murray, S., Patterson, S.J.R., Pederick, A.S., Speirs, D.J., Tarzia, V.A., van Holst Pellekaan, D.C.

How MPs voted on David Speirs' amendment to provide greater protection for unborn children from late term abortions:

Ayes 20

Noes 26

Majority 6

In favour of greater protection for the unborn around late term abortion
Bell, T.S. Brock, G.G. Brown, M.E. Cowdrey, M.J. Cregan, D. Duluk, S. Ellis, F.J. Knoll, S.K. Koutsantonis, A. Malinauskas, P. Michaels, A. Mullighan, S.C. Murray, S. Patterson, S.J.R. Pederick, A.S. Piccolo, A. Power, C. Speirs, D.J.Tarzia, V.A. van Holst Pellekaan, D.C.

Against greater protection for the unborn around late term abortion
Basham, D.K.B. Bedford, F.E. Bettison, Z.L. Bignell, L.W.K. Boyer, B.I. Chapman, V.A. Close, S.E. Cook, N.F. Gardner, J.A.W. Gee, J.P. Harvey, R.M. Hildyard, K.A. Hughes, E.J. Luethen, P. Marshall, S.S. McBride, N. Odenwalder, L.K. Picton, C.J. Pisoni, D.G. Sanderson, R. Stinson, J.M. Szakacs, J.K. Teague, J.B. Whetstone, T.J. Wingard, C.L. Wortley, D.

pregnant

FEDERAL MP George Christensen is seeking to introduce a bill into Parliament which would require medical practitioners to provide a child born alive during a late term abortion with the medical care they need to survive.

“FamilyVoice totally supports MP George Christensen’s bill aimed at ensuring babies which survive abortion are not heartlessly left to die,” said Greg Bondar spokesman for FamilyVoice Australia.

Mr Christensen has had a bill prepared pointing out that Australia is in breach of two international agreements to which it is a signatory: The Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

FamilyVoice is encouraging the Prime Minister and other key ministers to support the adoption of this bill and for a conscience vote.

The bill makes it an offence not to provide life-saving treatment punishable with penalties of higher than $400,000 for health practitioners and higher for corporations and possibly see health practitioners who breach the law deregistered in Australia.

“We are encouraging all our supporters nationally to lend their support for this life-saving legislation,” said Greg Bondar.

“We are also delighted to announce that MP George Christensen will be our webinar guest speaker on Monday, 8 March.”