Australian Govt for the 'glory of God'

[Stark]

I just saw the start of question time in the AU parliament; I've never seen the Speaker come out before. So he walks in, moves to his seat and bows to both sides of the floor... ... and then starts praying.

I'm not making this up. He asks God to assist in their deliberations for His greater glory. Huh?

So we elect representatives ... so they can serve the glory of God? I know this is old news, but I'd never been struck by such close-to-home political godness before. No wonder overturning oldscore backwards legislation is so hard, considering we're asking God if we're allowed ever time. Gah.

[Montcalm]

The fundies are reproducing like a virus,they must be stopped now.

[Gandalf]

I thought we were supposed to be the good one, with minimal fundies.

Republic now!

[Aaron]

I thought we were supposed to be the good one, with minimal fundies.

Republic now!

Didn't Australia have a vote on whether to do away with the Queen recently?

[Stark]

The meaningless monarchy protects us from other... worse fates!! I'd vote for a Goddite-free nation! Laws for humans!

[Gandalf]

I thought we were supposed to be the good one, with minimal fundies.

Republic now!

Didn't Australia have a vote on whether to do away with the Queen recently?

Back in like 1999 I think.

We need another one.

[Crown]

I thought we were supposed to be the good one, with minimal fundies.

Republic now!

Didn't Australia have a vote on whether to do away with the Queen recently?

It was a loaded question. The government (Howard's) were mainly against the idea of a republic, so rather than making the referendum; Do you want a Republic? Yes or No. They rigged the question to read; Do you want a <insert a specific type of republic here> type of republic?

It was of course the most unfavourable type of republic in the population's eyes, and many people who wanted a republic (me included) voted it down, because we didn't want that kind of a republic.

[Aaron]

How would having a Republic eliminate the fundies in the government though?

[Crown]

How would having a Republic eliminate the fundies in the government though?

A parliamentary democracy does that by default. There aren't any politicians that spring to mind that could be classified as 'fundie' in Australian federal government, and those that are would be abosorbed within one of the major parties, and thus are expected to vote along party lines.

Basically independants that could be fundie-like hold no sway on politics unless the balance of power is so fine that one vote either way could sway it. With the coalition/labour/democrates/greens as the parties this hardly ever happens.

[Stofsk]

How would having a Republic eliminate the fundies in the government though?

*blinks eyes*

We have fundies in our government? News to me.

*rubs eyes, blinks them again*

As for having a republic: my personal view on it is that a change to republic will force a re-evaluation of the traditions of the past. At least, I'd hope so. Actually I'd think it would be a requirement. But we're not going to be a republic until our leadership supports the idea.

[Stofsk]

There aren't any politicians that spring to mind that could be classified as 'fundie' in Australian federal government,

One of the pollies came out recently against abortion, and referred to himself as a "christian" politician. I think it was Tony Abbot (this would be a week ago, and I only think it's Abbot cause the recent Sunday Herald is full of dickhead readers blasting the editorialist for daring to criticise Abbot's position).

There was also the thing recently with Howard giving millions of dollars to christian private schools.

[Aaron]

Out of curiosity what are the advantages of a republic over the current system? I know we have the occasional person here in Canada calling for a break with the Queen but I never hear any explanation of why that would be good for Canada or Australia.

[Stofsk]

Out of curiosity what are the advantages of a republic over the current system? I know we have the occasional person here in Canada calling for a break with the Queen but I never hear any explanation of why that would be good for Canada or Australia.

We would have something on our flag which doesn't show past alleigance to another country (in other words, no more union jack). Aside from that I feel I'm way out of my league. I'm for a Republic, but I can't really say why. Change for change's sake? Perhaps.

[Crown]

Out of curiosity what are the advantages of a republic over the current system? I know we have the occasional person here in Canada calling for a break with the Queen but I never hear any explanation of why that would be good for Canada or Australia.

A status thing really; 'we are the engineers of our destiny' sort of mentatlity. But really, she's just a rubber stamp, and I couldn't care less if it was her, the Governor General, or a 'President' elected by parliament/the people who did the same thing as a Governor General.

[Crown]

There aren't any politicians that spring to mind that could be classified as 'fundie' in Australian federal government,

One of the pollies came out recently against abortion, and referred to himself as a "christian" politician. I think it was Tony Abbot (this would be a week ago, and I only think it's Abbot cause the recent Sunday Herald is full of dickhead readers blasting the editorialist for daring to criticise Abbot's position).

I bet his seat (electorial) is filled with old foggies.

There was also the thing recently with Howard giving millions of dollars to christian private schools.

No real change of MO. Private schools by default have recieved a greater share of the school funding pie than their public counterparts, despite the disparity of students.

[CaptainChewbacca]

blah, blah, fundies bad, SD.Net superior...

we get it.

[Xon]

I just saw the start of question time in the AU parliament; I've never seen the Speaker come out before. So he walks in, moves to his seat and bows to both sides of the floor... ... and then starts praying.

I'm not making this up. He asks God to assist in their deliberations for His greater glory. Huh?

So we elect representatives ... so they can serve the glory of God? I know this is old news, but I'd never been struck by such close-to-home political godness before. No wonder overturning oldscore backwards legislation is so hard, considering we're asking God if we're allowed ever time. Gah.

[q]116. The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.[/q]

Nothing in the constitution against it.

But then again, the constitution only gives 2 rights. The right to vote in elections, and the right to vote for referendums

[Stofsk]

I thought there was another, the right to freedom of religion? Or am I confusing that with something else?

[Vympel]

I thought there was another, the right to freedom of religion? Or am I confusing that with something else?

Same as the one ggs posted, just the short form.

[Xon]

I thought there was another, the right to freedom of religion? Or am I confusing that with something else?

That quote I just posted just means that the Commonwealth(the federal government) may not make any laws governing prohibiting the free exercise of any religion.

Nothing to protect an individual organisation or person from being excluded based on their religion. In the constitution. Anti-discrimination laws regarding religion have to be carefully worded to make sure they are constitutional.


I'm not to sure if the state governments are included in the 'Commonwealth', but that would involve checking the state in question's constitution.