From a contact/friend in the Uniting Church of Australia

21st October 2005

Schools failing to pass on values Public and private schools are spending too much time teaching students to earn a living and too little time exploring beliefs and values that shape lives, a leading education expert says. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/schools-failing-to-pass-on-values/2005/10/20/1129775902670.html>

Shelters: de-facto mental health institutions Homeless persons’ shelters have become Australia’s de-facto mental health institutions and Governments should allocate more resources to community organisations and not to the ‘sharp end’ of medical treatment, according to a leading provider of homeless services. READ ON <http://www.wesleymission.org.au/releases/October05/051020.asp> Crumbling mental health care system needs leadership and resources. READ ON <http://www.hreoc.gov.au/media_releases/2005/49_05.html> Not For Service: Experiences of Injustice and Despair in Mental Health Care in Australia. READ ON <http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/notforservice/index.html>

Intelligent design not science: experts Intelligent design is as unscientific as the flat Earth theory and should not be taught in school science classes, a coalition representing 70,000 scientists and science teachers has warned. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/intelligent-design-not-science-experts/2005/10/20/1129775902661.html> School defends intelligent design. READ ON <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4353524.stm> MORE <http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid05-10-18T235206Z_01_FOR885886_RTRUKOC_0_US-LIFE-EVOLUTION.xml> Just like astrology. READ ON <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/19/national/19evolution.html> Statements from religious organisations. READ ON <http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/7445_statements_from_religious_org_12_19_2002.asp> Understanding evolution. READ ON <http://evolution.berkeley.edu/> Understanding intelligent design. READ ON <http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/> More debate. READ ON <http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/nhmag.html>

Aussies wary about trust Forget about the rule to ‘Love one’s neighbour!’ The truth is, we don’t trust them. READ ON <http://nsw.uca.org.au/news/2005/ncls-re-trust_20-10-05.htm>

Moderator challenges workplace relations changes The Moderator of the New South Wales Synod of the Uniting Church has written to members of the Australian, New South Wales and ACT parliaments urging them to take action to challenge proposed changes to workplace relations legislation. READ ON <http://nsw.uca.org.au/news/2005/mein-re-workplace-relations_20-10-05.htm> Policy before religion in the fair pay commission. READ ON <http://assembly.uca.org.au/news/mediareleases/2005/release141005.htm> ACCI wrong: churches are committed to jobless. READ ON <http://assembly.uca.org.au/news/mediareleases/2005/release131005.htm> Industrial relations reforms disgraceful and excessive. READ ON <http://assembly.uca.org.au/news/mediareleases/2005/release101005_2.htm> IR changes ‘exploit vulnerable’. READ ON <http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16954733%255E31037,00.html> An efficient ride up the garden path. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/an-efficient-ride-up-the-garden-path/2005/10/18/1129401252009.html> Religious groups resist IR changes. READ ON <http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16962035%255E953,00.html> Uniting Church leaders have condemned the Government’s proposed industrial relations reforms and the limited safeguards which do little to protect the rights and conditions of Australia’s most vulnerable workers. READ ON <http://assembly.uca.org.au/news/mediareleases/2005/release101005_2.htm> MORE <http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,16882018-5001028,00.html> MORE <http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Churches-join-attack-against-IR-changes/2005/10/11/1128796477450.html> MORE <http://seven.com.au/news/topstories/112707> MORE <http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/church-leaders-warn-of-damage-to-relationships-and-family-life/2005/10/10/1128796467100.html> MORE <http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/workplace-for-robots-pm-under-fire/2005/10/10/1128796467052.html> MORE <http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,16891225%255E662,00.html> MORE <http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,16893885-5001028,00.html> MORE <http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16892104%5E601,00.html> MORE <http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16892094%255E601,00.html> MORE <http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1479251.htm> A time for meddling prelates. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/news/editorial/a-time-for-meddling-prelates/2005/10/11/1128796524940.html> MORE <http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/papal-twist-in-work-debate/2005/10/11/1128796526593.html> MORE <http://www.christiantoday.com/news/asia-pacific/australias.church.leaders.protest.industrial.relations.reforms/311.htm> MORE <http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1479623.htm> It’s unions aside and a wobbly floor for all. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/heres-the-summary-its-unions-aside-and-a-wobbly-floor-for-all/2005/10/11/1128796525155.html> A hostile takeover. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2005/10/10/1128796465400.html> The Government is setting up employers and employees for workplace arm wrestles. READ ON <http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,16902568-5001021,00.html> MORE <http://maitland.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=430385&y05&m=10>

Anti-terror laws put Australia on a dangerous path The Federal Government’s anti-terror legislation puts Australia on a dangerous path according to the Uniting Church President, the Rev. Dr Dean Drayton. READ ON <http://nsw.uca.org.au/news/2005/drayton-re-terror-laws_18-10-05.htm> New terror laws spark privacy concerns. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/New-terror-laws-spark-privacy-concerns/2005/10/18/1129401242983.html> The new ASIO legislation overturns long-held concepts of basic justice, says Malcolm Fraser. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/laws-for-a-secret-state-without-any-safeguards/2005/10/19/1129401313470.html> It makes things worse: Imam. READ ON <http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ill-take-rap-for-attacks-imam/2005/10/19/1129401317131.html>