Weekend Wrap for 29 August 2021

29 August 2021

Welcome to the NSL Weekend Wrap for 29 August 2021, where you can catch up on the latest secular-related news from around the country.

Don’t forget that the Weekend Wrap, which aims to help secular-minded Australians keep abreast of the latest news on current issues, is also published on our Facebook page!

At the National Level

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has backed moves to restore the rights of the territories, saying democracy in the ACT and Northern Territory should be respected. (The Canberra Times)

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has urged Catholics to write to their local state legislators and speak out against proposed euthanasia laws in New South Wales. (Crux)

The Australian Christian Lobby has called on its supporters not to “fear death” and instead push state governments to end COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions. (SMH)

Australian activists are waiting to learn the impact of the recent UK court ruling on teen gender transition. (Star Observer)

Human Rights Lawyer and academic Fr Frank Brennan says that Victoria’s policing and criminal justice systems erred in pursuing charges against Cardinal George Pell. (The Catholic Weekly)

Around the Country

VIC: Two men who were abused by a paedophile priest in regional Victoria in the 1960s have reached landmark settlement agreements with the Catholic Church. (ABC News)

QLD: Catholic hospitals have vowed to resist allowing doctors to enter their premises to administer end-of-life drugs if Queensland MPs support the introduction of euthanasia laws next month. (The Catholic Leader)

QLD: Specialised palliative care provider the Toowoomba Hospice has taken a stand against the proposed Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill that's to be debated by Queensland parliament. (The Chronicle; Paywalled)

QLD: A Bargara woman is calling on Queensland politicians to abstain from voting if they don't support the proposed assisted dying legislation; the Member for Bundaberg used a forum to explain why he's supporting it. (7 News)

NSW: Thirty adults have been fined after travelling from COVID-19 hotspot suburbs to attend an illegal church gathering in Sydney’s west, hours after the pastor led a prayer for an end to lockdowns. (SMH)

NSW: Wedding ceremonies will be allowed to recommence under lockdown restrictions following lobbying from church officials. (Sydney Anglicans)

TAS: The Tasmanian Government decision to foster greater LGBTIQ+ inclusion in Tasmanian schools with a budget allocation of almost half a million dollars has been welcomed by LGBTIQ+ community leaders. (Out in Perth)

WA: West Australian Upper House MP Nick Goiran has claimed that support for VAD legislation in the state was won through repeated personal attacks and media vilification against opponents of proposed euthanasia laws. (The Epoch Times)

TAS: Amid calls for reform, a Tasmanian conversion therapy survivor speaks out. (The Examiner)

Commentary and Analysis

Bonney Corbin and Jo Flanagan of the Australian Women’s Health Network look at how the Religious Discrimination Bill will reverse women’s rights. (Women's Agenda)

David Hardaker presents new instalments of Sins of the Father, his ongoing series on Brian Houston and Hillsong Church. (Crikey)

Kathleen Daly and Juliet Davis of Griffith University discuss the financial compensation paid to victims via redress schemes, and ask what it achieves for victims and justice. (The Conversation)

Kym Murdoch, whose mother Janice ended her suffering through voluntary assisted dying, writes on the impact that access to VAD had on her mother's life. (Go Gentle Australia)

The ACL's Wendy Francis comments on "serious flaws" in the proposed Queensland VAD legislation. (ACL)

Events and Advisories

Make a submission to the parliamentary enquiry into NT Senator Sam McMahon's Ensuring Northern Territory Rights Bill 2021. Submissions close Monday 30th August.

Residents of the NSW Northern Tablelands can register their views on VAD in a survey being run by Adam Marshall MP.

Sign up to the #DontDivideUs campaign, currently being run by a group of pro-secular groups including the NSL, to act against the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill.

DwD NSW are petitioning the NSW Parliament to work together to deliver voluntary assisted dying laws in 2021.

Dying With Dignity NSW has a tool that makes it easy for people to contact their federal MPs and senators to request help in repealing the "Andrews Bill", the 1997 legislation which denies the Territories the right to pass legislation on Voluntary Assisted Dying.

Visit the #QLD4VAD website to learn more about the campaign to introduce VAD laws into Queensland.

The Human Rights for NSW alliance has launched a campaign calling for NSW to pass a Human Rights Act.

That's it for another week!

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