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Christian lobby wins first political debate

Source: Stateline Victoria
Published: Friday, September 24, 2010 7:43 AEST
Expires: Thursday, December 23, 2010 7:43 AEST

The Australian Christian Lobby has succeeded in getting the two political leaders to attend the first forum of the coming election.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA, PRESENTER: As we go to air, the first political leaders' debate of the Victorian election is getting under way.

There is certain to be more with nine weeks left till polling day, but this one at Parliament House this evening has been arranged by the Australian Christian Lobby.

I spoke to its Victorian director Rob Ward before the event which has been entitled, 'Make it Count Victoria'.

Rob Ward, it's quite a coup for you?

ROB WARD, AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY: Well I wouldn't describe it as a coup Josephine. We've been able to arrange similar events both at the Federal level, for the last two federal elections, and also in a number of other States and Territories.

It's become part of the accepted routine now for elections for the ACL to engage in this way.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: Is it a debate?

ROB WARD: No, it's not a debate. It's very important people understand it's not a debate. It's an opportunity for both leaders to tell us about their vision for the State, how they see themselves engaging with the Christian constituency and responding to some questions from the church audience that's there.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: And so what will the format be? I guess it could be a bit of a dress rehearsal for the main event of the election campaign?

ROB WARD: Well we don't want to see it as a launch for the campaign, but rather a specific address to a specific constituency and we're very grateful for that opportunity.

The format is that the Premier will speak first for about 15 minutes or so. He'll take about half a dozen questions from the audience, from church leaders there and then the Opposition Leader will do exactly the same thing, so they're not on the stage together. It's not a debate, they're not head to head in any sense.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: What is the Australian Christian Lobby?

ROB WARD: I'm glad you asked. The Australian Christian Lobby has been around for about 12 or 13 years. It's a group formed basically to see Christian values and principles accepted and influencing the way that we're governed, the way our society functions and so we're a non denominational non partisan group. We don't tell people who to vote for, we don't stand people for Parliament, but rather speak into the political sphere.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: In numbers what sort of constituency does your group represent?

ROB WARD: That's a difficult one to answer Josephine, anymore than it's difficult to find out how many members there are of the Labor Party or Liberal Party. We've got about 10,000 supporters on our books. But you understand more than 60 per cent of Australians tick the box as Christians in the census, so while people may not be on our database, they certainly would broadly speaking share Christian values and understandings.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: What issues will you be raising with both leaders?

ROB WARD: We've been asked that question a number of times and I will say this, they're not our questions, they're questions from the church leaders. We went out to church leaders a couple of months ago and asked them this question 'what should we raise with the politicians before the election?' So the issues that will be raised tonight come from that survey of, if you like, issues from the church leaders.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: Now The Greens in Victoria are a growing force as you know and could be as many as seven MPs after the next election. They say they wanted to be invited tonight but you said no. Is that true?

ROB WARD: No, they haven't asked us at all, but we wouldn't invite them. Not because we have anything against them as a party, but rather because this is about the leaders. One of these two men tonight will be the Premier after the 27th November. That's what we're interested in.

A Green MP, no matter how many, well not no matter how many there are but given the numbers expected, will not be the Premier.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: So no they didn't ask?

ROB WARD: No, they didn't ask.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: They've showed me a letter from your group which says that they can't come along because they're not part of the leaders of major political parties?

ROB WARD: I have written no such letter. Maybe they're confusing it with what happened in Tasmania back in March this year, or maybe the Federal one, but there's been no letter in regards to tonight's event.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: The Greens also say that your group is a right wing conservative Christian group and, therefore, not representative of all Christian groups, what do you say to that?

ROB WARD: Well I don't think The Greens represent all people interested in the environment either, but I don't accuse them of not being able to speak into that issue.

We don't represent the church, we are not the peak body for the church. We don't seek to do that at all and in fact that's particularly why, Josephine, the questions tonight are not coming from the ACL they're coming from the church leaders themselves. Do we represent every Christian? No, no more than The Greens represent everybody interested in caring for our environment.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: But are you right wing as they say?

ROB WARD: It's funny I get accused of being pro Labor and pro Liberal and I think that's a perfect place for me to be.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: Rob Ward, thank you for your time.

ROB WARD: You're more than welcome.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: Late today the Premier was forced to pull out of the forum due to a health issue related to his father. Instead the Education Minister, Bronwyn Pike, will be filling in.

After that interview, Rob Ward confirmed that he did, in fact, inform The Greens they could not be part of the forum. Mr Ward said he had simply forgotten about the exchange of correspondence.

Tags: labor-party, liberal-party, states-and-territories, vic, melbourne-3000

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