Swan & Gillard
( I’ve just changed the caption on this image. When I put it up last evening I thought at first blush that was Jim Wallace. Never noticed before how similar they look. LOL. Apologies.)
Jim Wallace, head of the Australian Christian Lobby, claims in this article that Prime Minister Julia Gillard has reassured him that the privileges currently enjoyed by religious organisations that allow them exemption from anti discrimination laws will be maintained.
It’s timely to recall that the day after Ms Gillard replaced Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister, she made a point in her first speech after assuming office of inexplicably announcing that she would not make any changes to the Marriage Act. It’s likely that nobody much cared at that particular moment, reeling as we were from the shock of completely unanticipated events. Was this also an assurance to the ACL, an assurance that gay marriage would not be legalised on her watch?
The article states: The Government says those exemptions apply where the conduct conforms to the doctrines of the religion or is necessary to avoid offending the religious sensitivities of adherents.
On this evening’s ABC PM program, Labor Senator Doug Cameron complained somewhat bitterly that this matter had not been discussed in Caucus, and the PM has offered these reassurances to Mr Wallace without proper consultation. Senator Cameron feels strongly that the way to deal with this situation is for religious organisations to be as answerable to anti discrimination legislation as everyone else, when they are being funded from the public purse. Apparently this is the case in the UK, and it works well.
This book is for sale on the ACL website
This image gives an insight into the kind of minds and belief systems to which Ms Gillard has astoundingly chosen to pander.
If a religion has to harm others in order to maintain its integrity, there is something seriously awry with that religion.
As for “offending the religious sensitivities of adherents,” what is so exceptional about religious sensitivity that it must be exempted from laws that the rest of us must observe?
I’m told that Ms Gillard owes a significant debt to some Christians in the ALP who allegedly backed her ascension to the top job. Part of her repayment plan, apparently, is to maintain the illusion of exceptionalism these Christians nurture for themselves and their belief system.
We are faced with the choice between a devout catholic PM in Tony Abbott, and an atheist PM in Julia Gillard. However, given Ms Gillard’s unrelenting commitment to religious sensitivities and values, as opposed to basic human rights, one has to pity the voters who put their faith in the separation of church and state for the paucity of choice available to them.
No Place For Sheep 
I’m not surprised.They are a Tea Party of extraordinary quality.
Is there a single person of integrity left in the faux Labor party?
A vote for Labor is a vote for the churches policy, and for their continues protection.
Labor only set the floppy RCom after a 93% clout from the public.That is Labor’s new line in the sand, if we want sound policy, or a return to normality.
Unless of course you are a religion(Western ones only)
It’s simply easy to NOT waste a single vote on the filthy hypocrites,masquerading as Labor.
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Abbott’s advisor, Pell, hardly makes me want to vote the Coalition in….
I can’t be bothered to list the hundred and one other reasons…
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The beauty is Helvi,is it’s your choice.
I vote on my principles.Where I go after my innings,does not require a political badge.
There it is.
Principle before posturing.
My vote is precious and ‘this’ Labor will get slightly more than a Liberal coalition.Which is f*ck all.
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I wonder if she sees the hypocrisy involved with having the salvos jailing innocent people exempt from any charges of cruelty or law breaking, a royal commission into sexual abuses in the churches but no child abuse and torture on her part and now this bullshit.
I keep telling you she is a fucking cretin.
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Three cheers, Jennifer. I have a problem with this, of course, but honestly cannot see the hold religions have over the parliament diminishing in our lifetime. Sadly.
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I agree & it’s frustrating
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{Edit : the photo is of Gillard and Swan , oops}
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Two geese.Two turkeys.Both will soon be stuffed.
So what is your point DQ?
Wait long enough and we will find out Swan has politically fellated the ACL for a back pat, as well.
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I hope Jennifer removes your comment as well as replacing either the photograph or the caption. My message was for her and her only. Butt out.
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Removing the photo won’t change their DNA (or yours) by way of your unflinching support of their pro church obedience,DQ.
Besides it’s probably a Freudian photographic slip.
Your barracking is sounding like a drunk in denial.”Things will be different tomorrow,just one more drink.” Only in this case the endless drinks are paid for by us, and faux Labor are in the drivers seat, while we sit terrified in the death seat, rocketing towards a head on smash with Tea Party 1.
Pardon me while I arrange for a safer alternative mode of transport.
You’re on your own.
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Gobble,gobble.A very apt sound effect/team song, for Tea Party 2.
Ring tone perhaps.
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Oh dear, so it is.
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I can actually. I think the price to be paid for all the kiddie fiddling, the intolerance and the misogyny has been a gradual but steady desertion of the churches.
How long do you think you can live:)
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No surprises here : I’ve said as much several times over the last two years. The deal to remove Rudd cleanly had to avoid frightening the horses : Gillard’s reputation over the previous decade had been that she was a member of the socialist left faction. It must be a great disappointment to her rightist opponents that none of them have able to say “I told you so”.
I also think that re-election with a workable majority in October 2013 will see the end of this phase; at least I hope so. Solidarity, comrades.
The alternative to Labor’s re-election is too horrible to contemplate.
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When did the AEC allow flying pigs to vote,DQ?
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One sheep one vote is common enough; land rights for gay whales, family first, the shooters and fishers, why not flying pigs? There are even some who think that the opposition front bench might be electable!
Franchise for Flying Pigs Now!
Or are you anti-porcine?
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I eat anything and everything, DQ.
Mainly raw and still wriggling.If it makes audible noises,even better.
But unlike some, I am finicky about what I will swallow now, and find some of the things served up to me lately unpalatable.
However,
It is becoming more obvious that the lame and getting lamer, Trojan Horse aka Fine Cotton, is very omnivorous.
Her late night cravings for communal wine seem insatiable of late.
I also read very recently that it looks like the brood-mare known as Penny Fathering, (from the same NSW trainer) may also get a start in the P.O. Stakes.
Odds are so low, is it worth a punt?
But she can’t lose, if losing is winning,.
😉
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Never mind gay whales – what a let-down of gay people by the homophobic hypocritical bigot Gillard. Religion and democracy don’t mix. Is Gillard better than Abbott? If Abbott is elected he won’t last any length of time anyway – he is such a bird-brain even his party won’t continue to support him. And all the other “parliamentarians” of all parties are so pathetic they are not worth voting for. What has Gillard achieved for gay, lesbian, transgender, HIV people in the community -equality??? Not in our life-time!
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Is Gillard better than Abbott?
Maybe at deceiving us.
Other than that they are twins.
Gillard is a Christian by stealth.A proxy zealot.
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I want to reiterate that the thing I think we’re reacting to with this, and that I find most frustrating about exceptionalism is that it assumes intolerance at the outset and takes permission to proceed in that vein as if to say that anyone outside their circle of faith were incapable of the basic human exercise of tolerance towards anyone else.
My thoughts are that tolerance undermines exceptionalism over time and that we may want to be circumspect about creating flashpoints for persecution complexes among the faithful. But on the other side of the coin I wonder if a good many people don’t share my view that what is being perpetuated here is basically a form of bigotry most people in our society including Christians no longer care for. In religious terms it might be what’s referred to as an uncharitable attitude contravening the golden rule, “do unto others…” It just happens to be about the only thing from a religious upbringing I still consider worth heeding.
Another thought that might be worth teasing out is that, although it must represent a hefty push in that direction for most same sex attracted people, being gay doesn’t necessarily make you irreligious. Maybe there are those who’d reflect on whether a more tolerant perspective better prepares students for life in today’s society.
As for Jim Wallace and his ship of fools their ignorance assures their irrelevance. If only silly bloody Gillard could see it.
Can atheists excommunicate a person?
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Religious influence in NSW right + ‘Clever’ union thugs x Gillard = job done.
Win win for ACL.
If Abbott gets in the status quo remains on religious influence of parliament, and special rights and privileges,enshrined discrimination, etc (or gets worse.)
Nice work Fred.
Nice accidental Trojan Horse, Messrs NSW right.
Don’t look now DQ, but I think you’re riding a Trojan Horse .
In which case I think this hobby horse of mine, just went up in value.
You best pray there’s a late scratching.It’s looking more like the punters will be calling for a swab on race day or maybe even a Stewards enquiry.
Despite the colour of her ‘not so flowing’ red mane,I think Julia has earned to the right to wear the apt name, ,Fine Cotton, from here on in.
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You gotta love an optimist 😉
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I rather like the idea of an imaginary entity hating our kids (that’s a lovely book cover, Jennifer). It amply demonstrates why modern interpretations of ancient pagan myths should be viewed with unbelief. 🙂
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Do the poor dears only take their religious sensibilities to the workplace and places of worship? How on earth do they cope outside such cloistered environs when they have to share space and air with all those dreadful people who offend? Would they suffer if they were prevented from discriminating?
I am disgusted beyond words to know that not only is the government not using this golden opportunity to deprive religious organisations of their exemptions from anti-discrimination laws, it is actively seeking to confirm and entrench them. More baffling still is that, apparently, it is Penny Wong who will be steering the bill through the senate.
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You sound surprised.
Wong is a prophylactic version of a human being.
As a politician (servant of the people) she makes a good bookend for Garrett.
Wong is a half-arsed seat warmer who devalues the cause of ‘women in policy development’ so much, they would be better off if Abbott was their proxy vote.
She is like a bullet proof shield made from jellyfish.Anorexic jellyfish.
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New Caption for any new photo with Wallace and Gillard.
I vote for one of the following ;
Wallace and Grommet
Mother Inferior
Sister Betrayal – The Complying Nun
or everyone favourite name for such a transient short lived malodorous thing,
Amorphophallus titanum
(which is evidently appropriate)
And given how many businesses/industries are currently shedding workers, I’d say the final betrayal,Workplace reform (faux Labor’s WorkChoices Phase 2) must be a a mere blink way.Watch this space.
It will come under a banner of better rights to the ‘casualised workforce’.
Remember,You read it here.
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Except in the photo used above I’m pretty sure it’s Wayne Swan. Does anyone need some lessons in photoshop? 🙂
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Catch up HG.
I am nominating a caption for the NEW photo which DQ wants JW to install, which I presume will be one of Gillard and Wallace.
Read further up ^.
😉
I could paste Wallace’s head crudely onto Swans compliant body, if you want, but these days you need a more powerful program that joins them at the cerebral cortex.
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It is Wayne Swan. Was blind and now I see
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The name Mother Inferior is already taken by Mother Abbyss of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence, so maybe Sister Betrayal would be a better proposition. Labor lost even being faux when Bob Hawke took the place which should have gone to Bill Hayden in 1983. Nothing has been the same ever since!
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My regards to Mother Inferior,
Long may she reign.
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I love that Gillard is in talks with Twitter about bullying,when lobbyists and even our opposition, seem immune to the focus of MSM gaze, when it comes to the behaviour.
Slipper was bullied.Gillard herself was bullied.
Abbott’s whole attitude reeks of bully.
Until the standards in the big house set an example they can GFT AFAIAC, and that’s what I would tell govt,if I was Twitter.
Besides this is just the thin edge of the wedge, and the rules will be set up so that some little bureaucratic committee on a string, will pull any content exposing any facts which damage politicians or big business, movers/shakers etc.
.All social media needs is traceable accountable identity to any of participants.
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Great big fuss
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NOTHING
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^ mole hill ^
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The anti science lobby (aka climate change deniers) are prime example of overt and consistent bullying.Read the Drum some time.
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while the exemption issue is irritating us, please make sure to NOT PURCHASE any Sanitarium products>>>
“Under the draft bill, faith-based groups, including schools and hospitals, can still refuse to hire people because of a wide range of attributes that would be unlawful for any other organisation, including women who are pregnant or potentially pregnant.
When the Sex Discrimination Act – which came into force in 1984 – was drafted, a number of religious bodies argued they should be allowed to discriminate against pregnant or ”potentially pregnant” women to avoid having to employ unwed mothers.
Weet-Bix manufacturer Sanitarium is a religious organisation owned and operated by the Seventh-Day Adventist church, which means it would be able to discriminate against people with these attributes.
Sanitarium spokeswoman Julie Praestiin said the company’s workplace culture was ”grounded on Christian-based values of care, courage, humility, integrity and passion which are generally shared by the Australian community”.
She said Sanitarium complied with employment laws.
Hugh de Kretser, executive officer of the Federation of Community Legal Centres, said that Sanitarium, which is understood to have a turnover of $300 million a year – although the church is not required to lodge Sanitarium’s financial reports – should not be allowed to discriminate.
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Anne?
WTF?
You’re asking me to give up my Weetbix?
Talk about stretching my principles.
Just out of curiosity are there any known cases you can cite?
I think the whole problem with the ‘legal discrimination’ thing is if the law changed they would still use the same criteria to reject potential employees,but claim it was for another reason, if challenged.I think you would need a case of unfair dismissal to expose anything, because job seekers are not likely to know why they were rejected, or get told the truth.
People applying for a job with a bigoted org should just bullshit their way in, (bigotry is worse than a white lie??)or apply elsewhere.
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Time for a revision.
Those of us who see Gillards political behaviour as more abhorrent than aberration, ( no place for apologists in the discussion) will now have an opportunity to see her PM ship for what it is,if you look at the big picture effect, of the slate so far.
What you will notice (can add to the slate) today is the ‘cyber threat’ fantasy, is about the sixth or seventh attempt at the big brother policy.(note Conroy and Roxons previous attempts to get it through the back door).
Now when you add up all of her non Labor decisions,especially the ‘at her discretion’ ones, the pieces start to gel.
ACL,cyber crime,American bases,rubbery discrimination laws,refugee policy,single mothers, etc, etc.
What it all points to are the very things which define the patronising Southern Baptist types of the USA.We probably have quite a few advisers now from the US fuelling strategies which draw this disease in.
It’s well beyond time that those supporting Gillard at all costs,shifted there gaze from Abbott for 5 minutes and do a forensic analysis of what you defend.
I know for some there is no way through your partisan cruetts, but I accept that.
I am addressing those who have a physical ability to analyse honestly and judiciously.And when you do,try not to compare to the Abbott or the unknown.make your review one based on what Gillard has done.is doing, not on what some other person may or may not do.
If Gillard sticks with her deal with Wallace she has to go.I hope she does.Next time the deal she strikes, may be with someone worse.
My sympathy goes out to nova Peris.She is tainted.
History will tell us Gillard has done the same thing Abbott tried with Brough, and I believe Labor were ropeable about that, as were many here.
Gillard (on behalf of her NSW right string pullers) is Americanising Australia.
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