“Why do children follow different curricula depending on which State or Territory they live in?”

Because there are regional differences, and the local educational authorities are aware of what is needed in their own states. The above question is typical of people living in the eastern states.

“Indigenous policy” is a furphy. There will be no useful, practical changes while indigenous people continue to live in remote locations where they are beyond help.

Federal Labor has already put the kybosh on the extremist Stanhope and his proposals for gay marriages.

There are many areas where there should be conformity nation-wide, but education is definitely not one of them. There are so many differences between the eastern states and SA, NT and WA, clearly not understood in Sydney that education should be left alone

Hey, Mr Right - you are Wrong. Children are not different in different parts of the country. Last time I checked WA and SA and all the other states were all part of Australia and as such should have a common curriculum to be taught as a large homogeneous community.

Please help me with this, Mr Right, specifically why do you think children learn different things at different ages better in different states? Isn't the goal to get all the children in all the states to the same educational level by time they finish school?

Well said Jim.

Mr Rudd's vision of "a new consensus across our country”, will require considerable vigilance by the politicians and media to ensure special interest so called progressive (more regressive) agendas are not foisted on the nation.

Families based on the lifelong union of a man and woman blessed by children have been the bedrock of every civilisation. Attack the family is to attack the nation's foundation. Mr Rudd seems to have a pretty good handle on this.

We can have lots of different views on all kinds of subjects, but some things are basic to our future, families being one of them

Over 50% of marriages end in divorce or separation!

'Over 50% of marriages end in divorce or separation!'
This is all the more reason to teach children about faithfulness and commitment. They are far less likely to be abused if they are with their natural mum and dad.

Like tying the little lady to the sink and or stove!

Ah, the old sanctity of marriage routine. Is Mr Wallace aware of the history of this institution and the fact that it has changed wildly over the years?

Or maybe he doesn't like gays and lesbians? Without exception, all the GLBT people I know are the product of heterosexual unions, usually marriages, and very often marriages of church-going people. If he is really concerned about gay people running around, he must help to prevent straight people breeding!

Actually, WA introduced same sex adoption in 2002.

Oh yes, here we go again.

Although Father Jim feels a minority shouldn't set the pace for all, he is happy pretending that his small group of vigilante evangelicals have it right for everyone else.

A so-called 'Christian lobby' that speaks with one voice for all Christians.

Give us a break please Father Jim.

And how come the only moral issues you raise are to do with 'the usual' grab-bag of the 'don't do it or you'll go blind' variety?

How about raising the immorality of our share trading system, or the immoral tax system that allows groups like yours a free kick where we all have to pick up the cost of your free lunch?

How about questioning the role of the armed forces?

How about an ACL assault on the banking system?

Where is the return to 'the good auld daze' and the Church ban on charging interest?

How about tipping a few tables over down there at Parliament House?

There is something not quite right with a group that says 'God knows and does all', for his own mysterious reasons, and then goes out and about lobbying for change. It doesn't compute does it?

Back to the drawing board Father Jim, and attend to the splinters in the eyes of your churches before you come out demanding politicians listen to you above all others.

Father Jim, the state of Israel recently approved a law that gave gay and lesbian couples the right to adopt children. Sure - the orthodox Jews were outraged. But in passing this law, Israel not only recognised the basic human right of all loving couples to raise children, regardless of their sexuality but the Knesset drew a line in the sand about the proper seperation between religion and the state. Catholic Spain approved gay marriage for the same reason, despite vehement opposition from the pulpit.

Seperation of state from religion - that's a principle which is written into the Australian constitution but has been conveniently forgotten by the prayer group politicians who care little for anything standing in the way of their blind and rigid dogma which they feel justified, despite contrary public opnion, to impose on all Australians.

Their preferred weapon in their crusade against homosexuals is the application of legislative discrimination. Father Jim, same gender families, like mine, are a fact of life. Give us a break, we want nothing more than to live a full and peaceful lives, with the best future for our kids, living in harmony with our neighbours and exercising the same responsibilities as other loving, caring families by imparting our values of truth, understanding and compassion.