royal commission hosts criminal justice public roundtablesthe royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse is holding a series of public roundtables in april to discuss a range of criminal justice issues with invited participants.
the public roundtables follow march’s public hearing into criminal justice issues.
royal commission chief executive officer philip reed said the public roundtables will discuss adult sex offender treatment programs, director of public prosecution’s (dpp) oversight and complaint mechanisms and reporting offences.“these roundtables will invite comment and discussion from a range of participants, including police, public prosecutors, criminal justice policy officials, academic and practitioner experts and others,” mr reed said.“consultation through these public roundtables will help inform the royal commission’s criminal justice policy work,” mr reed said.
Bump for any who missed this.
Thanks again, Zeb.
Venue: Hearing Room 2, Level 17, Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney.When: Wednesday 20 April (reporting offences) 10am AEST-4pmThursday 21 April (adult sex offender treatment programs) 10am AEST-1pmFriday 29 April (DPP complaints and oversight mechanisms) 10am AEST-4pmTime: Commencing 10am AESTThe public roundtables will be streamed live via webcast on the Royal Commission’s website at
www.childabuse royalcommission.gov.au
senator's last rites to church tax breaks.
getting rid of tax breaks for churches and axing the school chaplaincy program could save the federal budget $250 million a year.. liberal democrats senator david leyonhjelm says the government should consider the move, which he has had costed by the parliamentary budget office, in this year's budget.. "this easter, the liberal democrats propose a $250 million annual boost to the budget by abolishing taxpayer support for religion," senator leyonhjelm told aap on thursday.. .
the christian church had made a "significant contribution to liberal democratic values" and had a right to impose religious tests for membership and employment, the senator said.. "however, we do not consider it appropriate for taxpayers to pick up the tab for what is fundamentally a private matter.".
Religion is a part of people’s private lives, so why does the government allow tax breaks for it?
...we remain a largely secular country that at the same time is blessed with a multitude of different religious beliefs, or total indifference.
What does confound a lot of people though, regardless of their subscription to any particular brand of God, is the legislated privilege and preference accorded to organised religion in this country.
Religion is a part of people’s private lives that is totally optional, yet we enshrine it at a budgetary level...in tax breaks bestowed on everyone from the Catholics to the Jehovah’s Witnesses to the Church of Scientology, your local mosque and the multimillion-dollar money machines in the happy-clapper sector such as Hillsong.
Churches don’t pay income or company tax as the rest of this country does. In most cases they are also exempt from state taxes and charges such as stamp duty, and exempt from local government rates.
In effect, the revenues of the temples of the faithful are subsidised by everybody else on the basis that, according to government guidelines, the “advancement of religion” is deemed philanthropic as it is supposedly beneficial to the community.
But seriously, in 21st century Australia, do we really need to be foregoing untold revenue to effectively subsidise evangelising and growing what in some cases are billion-dollar property and investment empires?www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/religion-in-australia-continues-to-benefit-from-tax-subsidies-despite-preaching-doctrines-that-contradict-modern-societal-norms/news-story/472a57734a806644f4e7292005ed3cdc
has anyone by chance read the latest issue of pshychology today?
april issue, article title' moment of impact'.. i havent fiished reading it yet, but it got me thinking, how likely is it that many born in jws [ teens in particular since thats the age these issues start to appear] will end up with these problems mentioned in the article?
i know of a few adults that have this problem, schizophrenia, bi polar, ect.
sowhatnow 7 hours agowell my topic wasnt actuallly about them only, i was asking about in general the likelyhood of many youg people being mentally damaged, has anyone actually read my post?
I read your post.
Did you read the link I posted?
From the page, as a summary:
Despite a lack of reliable scientific studies, there is consistent indication of high levels of mental illness amongst Jehovah's Witnesses.
There are a number of reasons why this could be the case - isolation from general society, an unrealistic view of the world and the destructive nature of the threat of disfellowshipping.
Total reliance on a leadership that claim angelic direction, yet have a string of failed prophecies and doctrines, leads members to fear the religion may be wrong but fear leaving, leading to cognitive dissonance. Those that do leave are often inadequately prepared for life and lack a support group that would normally be developed in a healthy upbringing. Additionally, people with mental illness can be attracted to religious groups and the loving brotherhood that they promise.
in public talks we would always hear about how we knew god's word was the truth because it was simple and clear.
how god revealed the real truth to uneducated and ordinary people.
the problem is that in reality something being simple or clear isn't an indicator of it's truthfulness at all.
JW_Rogue 2 hours agoIn public talks we would always hear about how we knew God's word was the truth because it was simple and clear.
How God revealed the real truth to uneducated and ordinary people.
The thing is, though, there was nothing simple and clear about some of those teachings.
Remember the Revelation book?
Instead they want "Simple Truths" handed to them, that's why they'll ignore anything that gives rise to any new or contradictory explanations.
Simple truths? Again, do you remember the Revelation book?... ;)
Also, as a side point. (I know this is not what you meant by those words, I am being a bit sarcastic)...
New and contradictory explanations were frequent when it came to interpreting the Bible book of Revelation.
Yet JW's could not ignore them.
They had to teach these new and contradictory thoughts, whenever the latest book came out.
www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/revelation-daniel-prophetic-interpretation.php
has anyone by chance read the latest issue of pshychology today?
april issue, article title' moment of impact'.. i havent fiished reading it yet, but it got me thinking, how likely is it that many born in jws [ teens in particular since thats the age these issues start to appear] will end up with these problems mentioned in the article?
i know of a few adults that have this problem, schizophrenia, bi polar, ect.
senator's last rites to church tax breaks.
getting rid of tax breaks for churches and axing the school chaplaincy program could save the federal budget $250 million a year.. liberal democrats senator david leyonhjelm says the government should consider the move, which he has had costed by the parliamentary budget office, in this year's budget.. "this easter, the liberal democrats propose a $250 million annual boost to the budget by abolishing taxpayer support for religion," senator leyonhjelm told aap on thursday.. .
the christian church had made a "significant contribution to liberal democratic values" and had a right to impose religious tests for membership and employment, the senator said.. "however, we do not consider it appropriate for taxpayers to pick up the tab for what is fundamentally a private matter.".
Deluded people can think it is persecution if they like.
How likely is this to happen, politically speaking?
The Australian budget is on May 3rd.
jehovah's witnesses hierarchy charged.
immediate press release: 26 july 2011. link to this press release: http://wp.me/p1g1hc-4o.
worldwide church hierarchy charged with child abuse.
(Talking now about the Victoria Inquiry into child abuse)
Sorry, when I said that, I should have explained I was referring to the bi-partisan parliamentary inquiry that was established in May 2012 in that state to seek information about the causes and effects of criminal abuse within religious and other non-government organisations;
There were two different inquiries.
But seeing as the date of the news article was 2013, you may have worked that out anyway. ;)
jehovah's witnesses hierarchy charged.
immediate press release: 26 july 2011. link to this press release: http://wp.me/p1g1hc-4o.
worldwide church hierarchy charged with child abuse.
For the benefit of WHATSGOINGON and anyone else who wants to know what happened and what Mr Unthank did afterwards...
(Forgive me for all the blue links, the links would be so long otherwise that the text doesn't all display. They all go to the right places ;))
Here is what happened to this case you were asking about:
"The four children launched their prosecution with a magistrate's permission on July 26, 2011. In October 2011 the church's Governing Body wrote to all Victorian congregations, telling them to get the checks.
At the final court hearing, on February 21, 2012, the Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued the case, saying it was not in the public interest."
"The child, 11, who is due to give evidence on Monday at the state inquiry into how the churches handled child sex abuse, wanted to force the church to comply with working with children laws. After four hearings, to which church leaders did not send a representative, the church began complying and the Office of Public Prosecutions intervened to discontinue the case.
(Talking now about the Victoria Inquiry into child abuse)
The inquiry will also hear from anti-Jehovah's Witness campaigner Steven Unthank, a former member of the church who says he and his family were ostracised and persecuted after he tried to tackle child abuse.
His submission alleges the church and its incorporated body, the Watchtower Society, covered up criminal child abuse, including rape, sexual assault, death threats, blackmail and assault, across four states by ordained ministers and officers of the church.''.
http://m.theage.com.au/victoria/child-in-jehovahs-witness-court-bid-20130217-2elcg.html
The Victorian Inquiry then basically led up to the ARC:
"In Victoria, in January 2011 the Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry was launched to investigate Victoria's child protection system and make recommendations to strengthen and improve the protection and support of vulnerable young people...
A bi-partisan parliamentary inquiry was established in May 2012 in that state to seek information about the causes and effects of criminal abuse within religious and other non-government organisations;...
By June 2012, there was community and academic pressure for the establishment of a Royal Commission, most especially in Victoria... (Read the rest of the 'Background' section if you want to, I'm trying to make this quick to read)
Australian Royal Commission wiki page
----------
This was his submission to the Victorian Inquiry:
Steven Unthank submission to Victoria Inquiry
He also started Jwsurvivors:
"JW Survivors is a volunteer not-for-profit community based victim advocacy group for survivors of the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses within Australia. The group was founded by Steven Unthank. The seeds of JW Survivors were planted by current and former members of the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and their families, in response to the Victorian Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other Organisations, and an extensive submission made in relation to the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their administrative controlling corporation, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia."
www.atheistgeeknews.com/tag/candace-conti
November 26, 2012JW Survivors lodged today a submission, written and prepared by Steven Unthank, in reply to the Australian government’s request for stakeholder consultation for the establishing of the “Terms of Reference” for the Child Abuse Royal Commission.Among the 9 recommendations made to the Royal Commission by JW Survivors was that “the Royal Commission investigate religious and other organisations in relation to their response to working with children laws as legislated in various jurisdictions across Australia.” The submission explained that “working with children laws and child safety legislation are the frontline of physical and sexual protection for children within the community”, and that “a failure, or refusal to comply with working with children laws, by an organisation, religious or otherwise, may be an indicator of the systemic failure of such an organisation to view the physical and sexual safety of children, with whom they work with, as a priority.” The submission also cited the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses as an example of one religious organisation engaging in the “wholesale” criminal breaching of working with children laws.On 12 November 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that she will be recommending to the Governor-General the establishment of a Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse in Australia. Following this, the government requested the input of stakeholder organisations in making recommendations for the ‘Terms of Reference’ for the Child Abuse Royal Commission. JW Survivors was one of those organisations who made a submission.Click on the below link to download a copy of JW Survivors 11 page Submission:
https://jwsurvivors.wordpress.com/
senator's last rites to church tax breaks.
getting rid of tax breaks for churches and axing the school chaplaincy program could save the federal budget $250 million a year.. liberal democrats senator david leyonhjelm says the government should consider the move, which he has had costed by the parliamentary budget office, in this year's budget.. "this easter, the liberal democrats propose a $250 million annual boost to the budget by abolishing taxpayer support for religion," senator leyonhjelm told aap on thursday.. .
the christian church had made a "significant contribution to liberal democratic values" and had a right to impose religious tests for membership and employment, the senator said.. "however, we do not consider it appropriate for taxpayers to pick up the tab for what is fundamentally a private matter.".
Senator's last rites to church tax breaksGetting rid of tax breaks for churches and axing the school chaplaincy program could save the federal budget $250 million a year.Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm says the government should consider the move, which he has had costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, in this year's budget.
"This Easter, the Liberal Democrats propose a $250 million annual boost to the budget by abolishing taxpayer support for religion," Senator Leyonhjelm told AAP on Thursday.
The Christian church had made a "significant contribution to liberal democratic values" and had a right to impose religious tests for membership and employment, the senator said.
"However, we do not consider it appropriate for taxpayers to pick up the tab for what is fundamentally a private matter."
Here is some info about him:
David Leyonhjelm Senator for New South Wales
Running for the Australian Senate in New South Wales at the 2013 federal election, Leyonhjelm was elected to the fifth of six vacancies.
In the first sitting week, he successfully moved to have the government's Clean Energy (Income Tax Rates and Other Amendments) Bill considered by itself, instead of being grouped with other legislation.
In November 2014, Leyonhjelm introduced as a private member's bill a Freedom to Marry Bill, which would allow same-sex and other forms of non-heterosexual marriage.
In August 2015 Leyonhjelm negotiated a deal to include a 12 month sunset clause on the temporary ban on importing the Adler lever action shotgun. The Government imposed the ban in July, while it reviewed the technical specifications of weapons in the wake of the Martin Place Siege.
Along with seventeen other crossbenchers (including 10 Greens, independents and representatives from four other parties), the Liberal Democrats share the balance of power in the Senate.
Even if this attempt at removing tax exemption doesn't go anywhere, there seems to be another attempt in the pipeline, and indications that many Australian citizens would be all for it:
Any thoughts?
i have no clue when it comes to australian politics, but these articles got my interest.could this be the start of something?...it would take too much space to quote them all, but please read each one in order.
it might make more sense, what i am getting at.it seems to me that the debate we no doubt all want to see happen: 'why do religions, those who don't do any community work except advancing their own religion, get tax exemption?
', could be coming soon.or maybe i am wrong?www.crikey.com.au/2016/04/05/essential-voters-want-to-dump-religious-tax-exemption/http://m.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/tax-exemption-for-religious-groups-should-end-poll/2994952/http://m.theage.com.au/comment/easter-is-a-good-time-to-revisit-taxexempt-status-of-religious-organisations-20160323-gnpzjj.html^^ note who wrote the article, it says at the end.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/australian_sex_party^^ yes, the above is actually a real political party.
Not just a bump.. Sorry, I probably should have posted this earlier.
This is the maker of the petition:
"Meredith Doig
Dr Meredith Doig is president of the Rationalist Society of Australia. She is currently on the Council of Federation University Australia, and the board of Federation Training.
She is standing as the lead Senate candidate from Victoria for the Australian Sex Party in this year's federal election.
www.rationalist.com.au/about-us/committee/meredith-doig/ "
^^ Please have a look at the rationalist link above.
I hope that this thread will not be ignored or dismissed simply because of the name of her political party. This woman is no slouch. ;)
p.s It's OK if the thread is ignored because my writing is crap and unmotivational. :)
Please sign/pass on the petition if you like it. Over and out. ;)
