When a Christian church decides that direct access to government funding allows it to disregard the basic tenets of public education

In this case it was the Living Waters (Uniting) Church which decided that it knew best and appears to have misunderstood and then exceeded its role in the National School Chaplaincy Program famously instigated by former Prime Minister John Howard and continued to this day by the Gillard Government.

A 2010 investigation by the Northern Territory Ombudsman revealed that:

· There was insufficient consultation with community before the chaplaincy services were implemented at specific NT rural public schools and, in at least one school all students were automatically included in what should have been an opt-in voluntary chaplaincy service

· The National School Chaplaincy Code of Conduct was breached by at least one chaplain

· One chaplain allegedly attempted to contact the parents of children on the opt-out list of students who would not be accessing these services

· Inappropriate one-on-one counselling was undertaken by unqualified chaplains, with regard to students' behavioural and emotional problems amongst other matters

· Private and unsecured records of students were kept by at least one chaplain and, in one instance these same records were initially denied to a psychologist treating the student in question

· Conflicts of interest arose and there were perceived problems with duty of care on the part of chaplains

· Proselytising religious beliefs appears to have occurred at times

· In at least one instance there was failure to disclose to a relevant government authority

· There were allegations of improper payments being made to the chaplaincy services

· Chaplains had access to intimate personal information re certain students even when schools were in receipt of ‘no contact’ letters from parents

· In one instance there was defiance of a DET Executive directive in relation to the continued provision of services to one child

· Complaints concerning chaplaincy services or the conduct of specific chaplains were often inadequately handled by both schools and DET/ DEEWR

· The Church permanently housed a convicted paedophile (at least 20 counts of offences against minors recorded) within a building complex also used as emergency accommodation for families with children and in close proximity to a school and park

This is not an exclusive list of problems encountered in the National School Chaplaincy Program and, the fact that there was such a hasty national implementation of this school program and that funding flows directly to the religious organisation (by-passing state eduction authorities) has led to a service which is apparently wide open to abuse.

NT Ombudsman’s 2010 Investigation Report On The Operation of the Chaplaincy Service Within Five Government Rural Schools of the Northern Territory [162 page PDF file]

The road to a hardier banana

With half the Northern Rivers rigid with shock since the humble Aussie banana skyrocketed past $15 a kilo and then entered the stratosphere to become a diamond-studded luxury item in the wake of record breaking natural disasters across the country; the mind turns to how limp yet pricey nanas might be avoided in future. Perhaps Waitrose found an answer on 1 April 2010 when it published this advert?

Securing their future

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit a protected population of orang-utan in Sarawak. It was a fabulous experience quietly watching them as they went about feeding, grooming and playing. The ease with which they moved through the canopy, often with a baby clutching on, was truly an amazing sight. However, despite the good work of many people who work to protect these animals in these reserves, sadly the future of the orang-utan is threatened by loss of habitat as rainforests are cleared.

Closer to home the situation is not much better for our wildlife. Australia has one of the highest rates of mammal extinctions in the world. Also largely due to loss of habitat. Though our wildlife is often cryptic and many are nocturnal and so may not be considered as visually spectacular as the orang-utan, Australian native animals are unique. Many are found only in Australia and have evolved in isolation, giving them characteristics not seen in other animals of the world. They have developed alongside our native plants and so a distinctive Australian environment has been produced. However, as trees are lopped and vegetation cleared, the food and shelter essential to the survival of our native animals is lost.

Australia’s 2010 Biodiversity Conservation Strategy indicates that more than 1,700 species and ecological communities are known to be threatened and at risk of extinction. Now is the time for us to take steps to protect our unique wildlife. Attention was drawn to the plight of the orang-utan many years ago, but still their future is not secure. As a developed nation we are in a better position to ensure our Australian animals have a future in their native environment.

Imelda Jennings
Wildlife SOS

A tongue in cheek look at the ethics of found money

 

Jessica Irvine, journalist, in The Sydney Morning Herald 6 April 2011

There's an old economist joke: an economist is walking with a friend when they both notice a $100 note lying on the footpath. As the friend bends to pick it up, the economist shakes her head and says: ''Don't bother! If it were a real $100 note, someone would have picked it up already.''

Col Shephard, Yamba identity, in The Sydney Morning Herald 7 April 2011:

About that economist and the $100 note lying on the footpath: if the economist, in a fleeting moment of total irrationality, picked up the note and found it was genuine, he or she would immediately say there are only two things that can be done with it. Spend it or save it.
On the other hand, the economist's friend would look for its rightful owner.

Not so far from the secret wish of Tony Abbott and Fred Nile?

The Onion's video take on the Christian Right's approach to a woman's right to choose finds an echo in the Leader of the Christian Democratic Party in the NSW Upper House as quoted in The Daily Telegraph on 31 March 2011:

Mr Nile said he would raise abortion as a priority.
"I would like it to be banned, but that is like raising a red flag to a bull," he said.
"I would like to see abortion laws refined so either women will be shown an ultrasound of their foetus before the procedure, as they do in some parts of America, or they have to see a counsellor once they make the decision."

Left hand drive vehicles for sale in Grafton

Is this Grafton car dealer really selling left hand drive vehicles?

I

Its ad in the local paper would, at first glance, have its customers believe it is.

Hey, wait a minute! It's not all it seems to be.

Someone has reversed the images of the two cars on the right hand side of the ad.

What Jack Nicholson said about the abuse at the Australian Defence Force Academy

I hope that the stupid oaf and his giggling mates are asked to leave the defence academy. They have ruined a young woman's life, reputation and career. She will have to live with this for the rest of her life. Jack Nicholson, Kidman Park, SA

Source: The Australian, 9 April

No, Jack, you're far too kind, don't ask the stupid oaf and his giggling mates to leave. Give them the right order of the boot and kick them out!