NSW 2015 STATE ELECTION GUIDE The policies of major political parties on life issues, marriage, religious freedom and education Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The NSW State Election is on Saturday 28 March. I endorse the words of Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney: “This is an important opportunity for us all to cast our vote in accordance with our conscience and with the profound truths of the dignity of the human person, our right to religious freedom, the preciousness of life, marriage and the family, and the right of parents to educate their children in a way which respects their religious and moral beliefs. Clearly, this is not an exhaustive list of considerations. But I believe they are of special gravity because they shape the very foundations of our free and democratic society and affirm that the dignity of the person is a good for which both Church and State must both work and often together. Let us continue to pray for our leaders, for all those men and women called to public service, and for our fellow citizens as they approach the coming elections that they may recognise and defend those Christian values which have given us the freedoms and the social capital that we cherish today.” Most Rev Peter W Ingham DD (Bishop of Wollongong) LIBERAL/NATIONAL COALITION LABOR THE GREENS Federal Policies NSW Leader – Mike Baird Federal Policies NSW Leader – Luke Foley Federal Policies NSW Greens’ Statement Abortion & Protection No party policy. Pro-life; Labor “support the rights of Pro-life. “The Greens will ensure “The Greens NSW will work of the Unborn Conscience vote. voted in support of “Zoe’s Law”. women to determine their own guaranteed access to safe and towards…repealing all laws that (As a member of the Legislative reproductive lives, particularly confidential reproductive health restrict the right of women to (This vote took place in the Legislative Council, Mr Foley did not have an 2 the right to choose appropriate opportunity to vote on Zoe’s Law services, including abortion.” choose abortion and restrict access Assembly – for further details please 1 see overleaf) fertility control and abortion.” as this Bill did not proceed to the to services [and] ensuring access to Council) legal, affordable, humane and safe (In practice, members are allowed a 3 conscience vote) abortion services for all women.” Euthanasia No party policy. Pro-life; No party policy. Pro-life; The Greens believe “terminally ill “The Greens NSW believe... Conscience vote. opposes euthanasia. Conscience vote. opposes euthanasia. people should have the right to Voluntary euthanasia is a end their lives on their own terms. fundamental human right”.5 The Greens would legislate to give people that right.” 4 Marriage The current Liberal Platform Supports the legal definition of “Labor will amend the Marriage Mr Foley has stated that “I’m The Greens support “the “The Greens NSW will work identifies “...the family as the marriage remaining a union of a Act to ensure equal access to now at a point where I’m willing legalisation of marriage between towards…the legal recognition primary institution for fostering the man and a woman. marriage under statute for all to give my support to a change to two consenting adults regardless of same-sex relationships values on which a cohesive society adult couples irrespective of sex the law, to the [federal] Marriage of sex, sexuality or gender and relationships involving is built.” Marriage as a union who have a mutual commitment Act, so as to provide for same-sex identity” 10 and “equal access, transgender people and intersex between a man and a woman is not to a shared life.” 8 marriage.” 9 regardless of sex, sexuality people through the passage 6 explicitly affirmed. and gender identity and marital of Civil Union and Same-Sex (In practice, members are permitted a 12 The National Party affirms “the conscience vote) status, to adoption and fostering, Marriage Acts”. sanctity of marriage between a and assisted reproductive man and a woman.” 7 treatment.” 11 Catholic Schools The Coalition has budgeted for the NSW contribution of the Gonski Labor has committed to meet the obligations to provide an extra $1.76 “The Greens NSW will work to…abolish all state government funding Agreement – fully funding NSW’s share of $1.76 billion in additional billion and to fully fund the six year Gonski Agreement. 14 of non-government schools. Public funds that are given to these funding for all schools over the full six years of the Agreement. 13 schools under current arrangements should be committed instead to equity programs within the public school system.”15 Religious Freedom The Minister for Education, Mr Adrian Piccoli, has stated that “SRE The shadow Minister for Education, Mr Ryan Park, has stated “The Greens NSW call on the State government to…oppose and end the teachers play an important role in providing support to our students that SRE is a “vital choice for parents, one that I fully support in provision of public funds and facilities that promote religious doctrine; Special Religious Education 16 (Catechist classes) in Schools AND and I commend them for the important work they do in our schools.” our multicultural, multi-faith society.” AND supports religious abolish the teaching of Special Religious Education (SRE) in public 17 Religious exemptions from the AND supports religious exemptions. exemptions. schools.” AND “The Greens NSW will works towards… the elimination Anti-Discrimination Act of exemptions currently provided in the Anti-Discrimination Act”.18 A Special Note regarding the Legislative Council (Upper House) Persons elected to the Legislative Council (Upper House) play an important and influential role and often exercise the balance of power. The three minor parties who play this role in the Legislative Council are the Christian Democratic Party (CDP), the Shooters and Fishers Party (SF) and the Greens. On significant pro-life and pro-family votes, the CDP and the SF have supported the preciousness of life and the value of marriage. (For further details about these votes, please see overleaf). REFERENCES: 1 Labor Party National Platform, http://www.alp.org.au/national_platform 2 Greens Women’s Policy, http://greens.org.au/sites/greens.org.au/files/Greens-Womens-Policy.pdf 3 NSW Greens Policies - Women, http://nsw.greens.org.au/policies/nsw/women 4 Dying with Dignity, http://greens.org.au/dying-with-dignity 5 Voluntary Euthanasia Policy, http://nsw.greens.org.au/policies/nsw/voluntary-euthanasia 6 Liberal Party Federal Platform, http://share.liberal.org.au/info/docs/federalplatform.pdf 7 The Nationals, Our Plan for Regional Australia, http://www.nationals.org.au/ Portals/0/2013/policy/Policy_Platform_August2013.pdf 8 Labor Party National Platform, http://www.alp.org.au/national_platform 9 'ALP leader Luke Foley throws his support behind federal legislation for same-sex marriage', Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Feb. 2015 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-state-election-2015/alp-leader- luke-foley-throws-his-support-behind-federal-legislation-for-samesex-marriage-20150218-13i9f1.html 10 Australian Greens Policy: Sex, Sexuality and Gender Identity, http://greens.org.au/sites/greens.org.au/files/Consolidated-Policy-Document-2012.pdf 11 Australian Greens Policy: Sex, Sexuality and Gender Identity, http:// greens.org.au/sites/greens.org.au/files/Consolidated-Policy-Document-2012.pdf 12 Sex, Sexuality and Gender Identity Policy, http://nsw.greens.org.au/policies/nsw/sex-sexuality-and-gender-identity-policy 13 Letter to CECNSW, 4/3/15. 14 Letter to CECNSW, 3/3/15. 15 NSW Greens Education Policy, http://nsw.greens.org.au/ policies/nsw/education-policy 16 Special Religious Education Gathering, Parliament House, Oct 2014. 17 Education Policy, http://nsw.greens.org.au/policies/nsw/education-policy 18 Sex, Sexuality and Gender Identity Policy, http://nsw.greens.org.au/policies/nsw/sex-sexuality-and-gender-identity-policy Three significant conscience votes have taken place in the NSW Parliament since the last election in March 2011: NSW 2015 STATE ELECTION GUIDE one in the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and two in the Legislative Council (Upper House) LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - LOWER HOUSE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - UPPER HOUSE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - UPPER HOUSE Crimes Amendment (Zoe’s Law) Bill (No 2) 2013 Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2013 Motion to support Same-Sex Marriage This bill sought to recognize and protect the lives of unborn children like This Bill sought to legalise the euthanasia or assisted suicide of persons Called on the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to amend the Marriage baby Zoe Ball, who are killed by negligent alcohol - or drug-affected who are suffering a terminal illness. – Legislative Council (23 May 2013) Act 1961 to provide for same-sex marriage). – Legislative Council (31 May 2012) drivers or by acts of domestic violence against their mothers. – Legislative Assembly (21 November 2013) AYES (63) AYES (13) AYES (22) Richard Amery (ALP) Andrew Fraser (N) Adrian Piccoli (N) Jan Barham (G) Penelope Sharpe (ALP) Tellers John Ajaka (L) Trevor Khan (N) Penelope Sharpe (ALP) Kevin Anderson (N) Thomas George (N) Geoffrey Provest (N) Cate Faehrmann (G – resigned) David Shoebridge (G) Jeremy Buckingham (G) Jan Barham (G) Scot MacDonald (L) David Shoebridge (G) Gregory Aplin (L) Melanie Gibbons (L) Anthony Roberts (L) Amanda Fazio (ALP) Lynda Voltz (ALP) Michael Veitch (ALP) Jeremy Buckingham (G) Sarah Mitchell (N) Lynda Voltz (ALP) Michael Baird (L) Troy Grant (N) Andrew Rohan (L) John Kaye