Posted by Lexi, Tuesday, 19 June 2012 6:59:14 PM

" ... A conscience vote should be allowed in Parliament
on same-sex marriage in a secular country like
Australia - which has no official or state
religion and where religious laws have no legal
status. .. Its very disturbing to think that these people may
form our next government. ... "

Indeed however, I am not clear as to whether or not what you have said is entirely true in regards to Oz being a secular state.

Do the politicians not say a Christian prayer in parliament?

Are there not acts of laws governing some religions but not others?

Did they not erect a pathetic little wooden cross in the Oz Embassy in Bali post the bomb regardless of the variety of different folk who were effected?

..

As for *shadow minister* I do think you are very patient and thoughtful *Lexi* but I suspect that he will like his cronies just go about banging his "symbol of discord" like a crazed, robotic chimp, regardless.

In the case of *Juliar Geelar* and the carbon tax, had they gained a majority, mayhaps they would have kept their "promise," but as she clearly did not, she had little choice but to nego with the *Greens* under the "new paradigm."

Which is of course why in my view, we ought here far less in the media from the opposition, and far more from the people involved in the process of enacting law, that is to say the *Greens* and the *Independents,* because they indeed currently have the power to impact upon the populace.

Of course, this is one of the great travesties of allowing so few to control so much of the media, as it is obviously self serving for the politicians who in turn have less people in the media to deal with and greater ease in the process of soliciting financial contributions and favorable coverage to keep themselves in power.

As for the "Gay Marriage" issue, to me it would have all been over and done with a long time ago were it not for the fact that there are simply so many stultified, bigoted, fruit cakes like *Josephus & Runner* who simply do not care for freedom of religion one iota, at least to the extent that the believes of others contradict their own, as if they were to stand up and say that one of the major parties were against *Jesus* then there would very likely be serious political ramifications at the next election for the "offenders."

There has been for many decades in this country other religions who "marry" gay people as one of their sacraments, not to mention other historical aspects as eloquently detailed by *David F*

(P.S. I must get over to the High court and have a look at the judgment)

No, sooner these loonies would vote for Abbott so that he may lock up more children for extended periods in circumstances known to lead to adverse medical outcomes, such is their obsession with their own delusional beliefs.

Dear DreamOn,

Of course one could question the influence of
religion as far as our pollies go. Look at Mr Abbott
as an example. He's a Catholic who can lie through
his teeth - knowing as long as he repents -
all is forgiven. Of course our PM
would be considered at a
disadvantage, by some, for being an atheist.
And a woman, and not married, and the list goes on.
Depends on your point of view.

However, officially
the stance is that Australia does have a secular
government and no official or state religion and
the government is supposed to treat all citizens
equally regardless of religion and religious laws
have no legal status in Australia.

cont'd ...

I meant to add that at least the PM
has the decency to allow her MPs a
conscience vote on this issue not
like Mr Abbott who refuses his MPs
that right. Shadow Minister would have
us believe that Mr Abbott is simply keeping
his election promise. Well he can go ahead
and keep it - but don't force your MPs
to keep a promise they didn't make.
This is supposed to be a democracy after all.
Not a dictatorship. Still Mr Abbott's mentor
Mr Howard wasn't known for being very democratic
either. He taught Mr Abbott well it seems.

'o many stultified, bigoted, fruit cakes like *Josephus & Runner* who simply do not care for freedom of religion one iota, '

and the likes of Dreamon and others who could not care less about what is best for children and society as long as their own little perverted view of life is accepted.

Lexi,

Given the labor party policy of expelling those that vote against the party, they are hardly the ones to lecture on "democracy". Gillard was dragged kicking and screaming to this juncture, and only gave in to a conscience vote because it had no chance.

The electoral cycle is only 3 years, with just over a year to the next election. If Juliar said she would take it to the next election as part of the labor platform, she would not have to break another promise.