Welcome to the Australian Family Association National Branch
PLEASE MAKE YOUR SUBMISSIONS NOW! SENATE INQUIRY INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BROADCASTING CODES OF PRACTICE (Closes Fri 2 May 2008) MATERNITY LEAVE INQUIRY-IMPROVED SUPPORT FOR PARENTS WITH NEWBORN CHILDREN (Closes Mon 2 June 2008) Submissions can be made by email or post. Please click on a submission to find out more about these inquires. An outline of the AFA's intended approach to the issues raised and some further suggestions for members' own responses is also given. Readers may find this helpful in preparing their own responses. Many readers will be able to share personal experiences that pertain to the inquiry issues.
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Urgent Action on Abortion Laws in Victoria Click HERE
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NATIONAL PRESIDENT DAVID PERRIN David Perrin is the National President of The Australian Family Association, and also the Vice-President of The Family Council of Victoria. He is the Executive Officer of the Drug Advisory Council of Australia, and has traveled extensively to research drug policies overseas and is a prolific writer on drug issues. David was a Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for 14 years (1985 to 1999) during which time he was a vigorous advocate on marriage and natural family issues.
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NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT MARY-LOUISE FOWLER Mary-Louise Fowler is National Vice President and NSW President of the Australian Family Association. She is married with four children and lives on a farm in rural NSW. She is an experienced campaigner and has been active in the AFA for over 20 years. She addressed the National Marriage Forum in 2004, and is a key member of the Integrity Alliance which is working to implement the policies of the Sexual Integrity Forum held in 2005. She is the Convenor of the AFA National Conference to be held in |
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JOHN BARICH John is married with 4 children. He is a graduate in Economics and Political Science from UWA and ANU. John has had over 30 years involvement in social issues. During his time in Social Security in Canberra he was responsible for research into family policy. In May 1980 John was part of a group which planned the Conference on Family Issues sponsored by the Council of social Welfare Ministers held at Macquarie University. For more than four years he headed the Research and Development Branch of the Federal Office of Child Care. In October 1992 John helped organize the National Conference of the Australian Family Association held for the first time in Perth on the subject of “Marriage”. During the Year of the Family 1994 he was instrumental in organizing a consortium of organizations which was given the task of arranging the WA Government’s Community Conference. John is President of the WA Branch of the Australian Family Association, Convener of the Family Council of WA and on the State Council of the Parents and Friends Federation. |
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STOP HUMAN CLONING CAMPAIGN
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (Democrat) and Senator Lynn Allison (Liberal) are each planning legislation based on the Lockhart Inquiry into human cloning and embryonic stem cell research. This inquiry proposed: 1. Use a woman’s donated human egg, removing the nucleus and fusing it with a cell from an adult person to produce an embryonic clone of that person, i.e. somatic cell nuclear transfer; 2. Take an animal egg, remove the nucleus and then fuse it with a cell from an adult human person to make an embryo, an animal-human hybrid; 3. Use human genetic material and genetic material from two or more animal species to create a chimera, another form of animal-human embryo; 4. Use genetic material from multiple women and men to create an embryo with more than two parents; and 5 Widening access by scientists to fertilized embryos for embryonic stem cell research. These proposals represent gross violations of the dignity of the embryo. VISIT OUR UPDATED CLONING PAGE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, LINKS AND INFORMATION ON CLONING click here
THE AFA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2006 WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!!! THE PAPERS FROM SPEAKERS ARE AVAILABLE BELOW.. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE PAPERS AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE GREETINGS FROM PEOPLE LIKE THE PRIME MINISTER, CARDINAL GEORGE PELL AND (AET) COMMISSIONER LES STRONG GREETINGS The Prime Minister, The Hon. John Howard Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell Salvation Army Territorial Commander, Commissioner Les Strong CONFERENCE PAPERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE Dr Peter Cook: Equal Opportunity for Babies: Breastfeeding as a Stategic Priority & Home triuths absent in early childcare debate: We need parent-friendly options & Make mothers matter Mrs Babette Francis: Cloning & Stem Cells - what now? Roslyn Philips: Online pornography and children Dr Craig Raeside: Drugs, Mental Ilness and Crime Mr. Joseph Santamaria QC: The Primacy of the Family and the Subsidiary Role of the State Dr Brigid Vout: Reframing the anti-abortion message: Pro life and/or pro woman?
FREEDOM PUBLISHING
PLEASE NOTE: Books of interest are available on-line at www.freedompublishing.com.au. Categories include, Politics, Economics, Family & Marriage, Social Issues and Children's books. FOR ALL YOUR FAMILY BOOK NEEDS
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The AFA Quoted!! The AFA has a large presence in the media. Spokespeople are often called upon to comment on issues that affect the family. Below are some articles that have appeared in News Papers across Australia. We are making a difference!!!
Sex film inflames passions "There is no need for it in normal cinema's" Bill Muehlenberg Law change to block gay marriages "Coalition support for the amendments would constitute a serious victory for protection and value of marriage." Damien Tudehope More couples are delaying marriage " Couples who choose to live together before marriage are placing their relationships in jeopardy" Bill Muehlenberg PLEASE NOTE: More AFA Quotes are available in our archives.
In the News!!! These are articles that have appeared in News Papers across Australia on topics that the AFA believe are relevant to our work and the community in general. Kids hit by porn wave Children are being bombarded with hard core pornography while innocently searching the Internet Teresa's Story: Teresa Streckfuss knew the baby she was carrying would die after birth Father begs: Let my baby live A father has begged the law to give his sick baby the chance to live. Late term abortions on rise Controversial late-term abortions are increasing in Victoria, new figures show. Late abortion furore erupts Hospital told to release private file
Tot should die: Judge Parents lose heartbreaking fight Anger at pop's "dirtiest" video "This is bordering on pornography for children". Bill Muelenberg Tax Breaks not welfare for the rich, says PM Giving child-care tax breaks to wealthier families was not "upper-class welfare", John Howard
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IN FOCUS
In this section you will find articles we feel are of special interest.
Also included in this section is news on our achievements in the past and our current battles.
From time to time we will list actions that you can also take part in.
TO HAVE OR NOT TO HAVE:BABIES IN AUSTRALIA
Dr Kerrie Allen - Recent ABS data has shown a growth in the numbers of babies being born to Australian women. read on....
ADDRESS TO THE NATIONAL MARRIAGE FORUM
On Wednesday 4th August, Mary-Louise Fowler, President of the NSW AFA, gave an address at the National Marriage Forum. The full address is now available here on-line, in a printer friendly layout.
BILLINGS FAMILY LIFE CENTRE CONFERENCE
David Perrin's paper The Most Critical Issue in Australia Today is the Fertility Issue, given at the Billings Life Centre Conference on the 26th February,is available in a printer friendly format
KINSEY:THE HORROR STORY
Hollywood is at it again: seeking to defend the indefensible. Bill Muehlenberg
MARRIAGE, WE WON!!!
Marriage We Won !: On Friday August 13, the federal senate passed into law the Marriage Amendment Bill 2004.
Marriage Amendment Update: As most of you know, in late May, John Howard had his Marriage Legislation Amendment Bill 2004 tabled in Parliament.
The Marriage Legislation Amendment Bill 2004 Both of the Government's Marriage Amendment Bills passed the House of Representatives
"There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye-to-eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends." (Homer, The Odyssey)
Action
What can one person do? You might be surprised!
Politicians and newspaper editors really want to hear what real people think, so let's tell them, often!
We are adding resources to help you to carry out your role
Help us to help you - your membership gives us the resources to provide you with more material to use.
Contact your nearest AFA branch to ask about joining, and we'll send you our journals and action resources.
GREAT FAMILY BOOKS
CAMPAIGNS FOR 2006
Internet Filtering: There is an urgent call for the Government to implement mandatory filtering of pornography at the ISP level. The AFA has taken on the battle for ISP filtering and are calling on you for help.
Families urged to lobby Telstra and Optus for internet porn filter: "Every Australian has a fundamental right to access the internet free from pornography and extreme violence."
Child Protection or Pornography Profits? The Australian Family Association today called on telstra and Optus to join internet filtering trials to be conducted in Tasmania.
Urgent call for Governement to implement Mandatory National Filtering of pornography at the ISP level: The Ingegrity Alliance is a newly formed coalition of groups such as, Advocacy, Relief for Children, the Fatherhood Foundation and the Australian Family Association.
Links to articles listed by topic appear below or visit the links above to see what is happening in your State.
ABORTION
We kill babies Andrew Bolt speaks on abortionGovernor-General calls for change: Too many abortions Governor-General Michael Jeffery entered the abortion debate when he declared there were too many abortions in Australia.
Abortion Gets a Hearing, sort of: A review of the documentary, My Foetus, which aired on ABC television
Yes, it's an abortion Andrew Bolt
Late term abortions Richard Egan outlines the current debate regarding the Australian tax-payer funding of abortions
CLONING
Learn the scientific facts and the ethics about stem cells and cloning on our Cloning Resources Page
Cloning Concerns If a rogue scientist is to be believed, the stuff of science fiction has become fact.
Stem cells taken from cloned embryos South Korean scientists claim they have cloned a human embryo and extracted stem cells from it.
PORNOGRAPHY AND CENSORSHIP
There is an urgent need to have mandatory filtering out of pornography by Internet Service Providers.
Mandatory Filtering of Internet Content: Too Expensive?
Help protect our children from pornography on the Internet. Contact our National Office for a petition aimed at making Internet Filtering of pornographic content mandatory, or print one now.
Porn in Sixty Seconds: This article by Paul Gray, first appeared in the Herald Sun on the 14th October 2003
MARRIAGE
Single Low income men can't marry A study commissioned by the Australian Family Association has found that one in three young men in their twenties and thirties cannot afford to get married
What sort of men marry? Men who come from happy and intact families are most likely to want to marry and form families themselves.
Men's attitudes to Marriage A recent United States study highlights the type of young men who are more likely to marry and why they want to marry.
Fatherhood expert:importance of marriage Dr Wade Horn speaks to a large and appreciative audience at the Australian Family Association
Fatherhood and Marriage: A Vital connection Bill Muehlenberg discusses the evidence which shows that stable marriage encourages good parenting
FERTILITY
Australia is dying Australia’s fertility rate is well below replacement level and continues to fall according to the latest census statistics
FAMILY ISSUES
Telling teens the truth " I believe sex is something that should be given in a life-long relationship - ultimately marriage." Anna McCoy (17)
PLEASE NOTE:
More articles on the topics listed above are located in our archives
