Weekend Wrap for 27 October 2024

Rosemary Lynch: Our window of opportunity to remove Christian influence from wellbeing roles in public schools
"It is almost 20 years since the then Prime Minister John Howard unveiled funding for the National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) to “promote pastoral care and spiritual guidance for students”, with Christian contractors paid to employ Christians in public schools. While the role has been essentially that of a secular pastoral carer/student wellbeing officer – with religious activities and proselytising banned – the program has, for much of that time, required, without any justification, those people who fill the roles to be people 'of faith'." (20 Oct 2024)
Read more at Rationale Magazine

Jacqueline Maley: Abortion is decriminalised Australia-wide. Why the hell are we debating it again?
"The change came far too late, but it did, eventually, come. Abortion is now decriminalised in every Australian state and territory, but if you think that means the matter is settled, you’re wrong. The extraordinary success of the anti-abortion movement in the United States – where abortion bans now exist in 21 states – has clearly emboldened opportunistic local politicians. Abortion prohibitions are now back on the Australian political agenda. In Queensland, where a state election will be held next weekend, abortion has unexpectedly been a key issue during the campaign. Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli, who is the favourite to win the election, has refused to state clearly whether he is pro-choice. He has insisted the legal status quo will not change. But he voted against laws decriminalising abortion (enacted in 2018) and will not say whether he will give his MPs a conscience vote on the issue, should it come up in the next parliament." (20 Oct 2024)
Read more at The Age

Prudence Flowers: Abortion is back in the headlines in Australia. The debates in the United States tell us why
"The 2022 news that the US Supreme Court had overturned Roe v Wade and ended the constitutional right to abortion sent shockwaves around the world. For Australian opponents of abortion who had long looked to the US for leadership and inspiration, it prompted rejoicing. As a leader of Cherish Life Queensland put it, 'if the USA can do it, with God’s help, so can we'. In late 2024, the abortion issue has suddenly erupted in Queensland and South Australia. A subset of local conservatives, energised by the fall of Roe v Wade and the example of Donald Trump, are embracing the divisive 'culture war' tactics that dominate US politics." (24 Oct 2024)
Read more at The Conversation

Jane Caro / NSL: Jane Caro on the new threats to abortion rights in Australia
"For reasons that have more to do with American politics than anything relevant to Australia, abortion rights are back on the agenda. In both Queensland and South Australia, rights that women thought were finally settled are being challenged by those who want to control women." (24 Oct 2024)
Read more at the National Secular Lobby

Michael Chapman and Paul Komesaroff: The question of voluntary assisted dying in dementia is not simple
"The articles by Ian Chubb and John Ward calling for an extension of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) to cover dementia evoke the deep sadness experienced by many people confronted with this condition. It is true that the incidence of dementia is increasing, causing great suffering, and that VAD is now legal and generally accepted in most of Australia. It is also true that for many people it seems natural to extend the availability of VAD to allow people with dementia to avoid anticipated personal indignities and painful burdens on their families. Without diminishing our compassion for Professor Chubb’s agonising experience, however, we feel the need to point out that extending VAD in the manner proposed is not as straightforward as it seems. There are major issues regarding both VAD and dementia in relation to which extended public discussion will be needed before we would be able to take such a step." (24 Oct 2024)
Read more at Pearls & Irritations

Neil Francis: Hard-won human rights in grave peril at Queensland election
"It was curious then that, leading up to the legalisation of VAD, the Catholic Church’s spokesperson for VAD, Townsville Bishop Tim Harris, wrote to all Queensland MPs “on behalf of the 80,000 Catholics in my Archdiocese”, urging MPs to oppose the reform. But analysis of Vote Compass attitudes amongst Catholics in the eight Queensland state electorates that comprise the Bishop’s archdiocese show most of the church’s own flock (79 per cent) support VAD, with just 11 per cent opposed. Indeed, across the state, VAD is supported by 78 per cent of Catholics, 84 per cent of Anglicans, and 82 per cent of non-Christian religionists. Support is in a considerable majority in every electorate across the state, from 71 to 83 per cent. And most Queensland nurses (87 per cent) also support VAD. You’d think with such widespread public backing that the human rights issues of abortion and VAD access would be settled. You’d be wrong. They’re under dire threat from a small but highly active conservative religious base. And, according to at least one pundit, that base is likely to score an ‘easy win’ at this week’s state election." (25 Oct 2024)
Read more at Rationale Magazine

Madison Griffiths: The fragility of abortion rights in Australia
"In September this year, private abortion provider MSI Australia updated its “Australian Abortion Access Scorecard”, which summarises current abortion laws across each state and jurisdiction, ranked from most to least accessible. The scorecard revealed, disturbingly, a wide disparity across the country, with no state offering unimpeded access. And this month, brutish anti-abortion debates have resurfaced, with Robbie Katter, a conservative member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, vowing to introduce a private member’s bill that could trigger a conscience vote if the Liberal National Party wins this weekend’s state election, as expected. Some members of the LNP are avid in their contempt for abortion, and both leader David Crisafulli and his deputy, Jarrod Bleijie, voted against its decriminalisation in 2018. Last week, legislation that would force women seeking rare late-term abortions – typically motivated by severe risks to the mother or child – to be induced to deliver a live baby, was narrowly defeated in a conscience vote in South Australia’s upper house. Coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has since pushed for the issue to be on the national agenda, saying she could not agree with later-term abortions and that terminations after the first trimester are “immoral”. In a landscape already made precarious for so many, and with public hospitals still unwilling to provide equitable support after the Senate inquiry, such statements are a reminder that although abortion is now legal in every state and territory, the struggle to protect that right, let alone make it accessible, continues." (26 Oct 2024)
Read more at The Saturday Paper

Karen Middleton: How the abortion bandwagon has proved a useful vehicle for political advantage
"When politicians start talking about abortion law, it’s often more about the politics than the law. When this occurs in the heat of an election campaign, the likelihood of that only increases. Since Robbie Katter ignited the final weeks of the Queensland state election campaign with his talk of winding back abortion law under a possible future Liberal National government, similar talk has crept south and into the federal arena. A sudden intervention on the subject by the Northern Territory Country Liberal party MP Jacinta Nampijinpa Price sparked questions about a coordinated strategy among conservatives to put the issue back on the agenda nationally." (26 Oct 2024)
Read more at The Guardian

Donna Lu: Amy-Clare had an abortion. Queensland’s current debate around the issue makes her feel like a criminal
"Amy-Clare says it would be 'an absolute nightmare' if abortion were to be recriminalised in Queensland. 'I can’t imagine someone who had to go through what I had to go through doing that and feeling like a criminal as well,' she says. 'Even though my abortion felt like the only choice for medical reasons … anyone who has a pregnancy they don’t want should be able to terminate that pregnancy and to do so safely.' When the bill that would legalise abortion came before the Queensland parliament in 2018, all but three Liberal National party MPs voted against it. David Crisafulli, who is now the party’s leader, and his current deputy, Jarrod Bleijie, were among those opposed to legalisation." (26 Oct 2024)
Read more at The Guardian

Trevor Cobbold: Labor’s amendments to the Education Act fail to ensure full funding of Public Schools
"Obstacles remain in the pathway for public schools. The amendment Bill makes a minimalist change to the limit placed on Commonwealth funding of public schools by the Turnbull Government. It fails to remove the blockage erected by the Morrison era funding agreements that allow the states to use “accounting tricks” to defraud public schools of billions in funding. The Bill replaces Turnbull’s cap on the Commonwealth share of funding of public schools of 20% of their Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) with a floor of 20% for all jurisdictions except the Northern Territory where the floor is 40%. While the floor makes it possible for the Commonwealth to increase its share of funding public schools, the Labor Government is limiting the share to 22.5% except for the Northern Territory. This is incommensurate with the Commonwealth’s national responsibilities for educational, social and economic policies." (26 Oct 2024)
Read more at Pearls & Irritations