The Defining Issue of the Victorian Election
Filed on 17 November 2010 in Food For Thought category. 
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The Defining Issue of the Victorian Election
What is a defining issue?
There are important issues, very important issues and defining issues. Defining issues are wrongs brought into being by government introduced legislation. Although we may argue about the relative importance of issues what we cannot argue about is when governments actually legislate to permit evil. And especially what we cannot argue about is when governments legislate to compel evil.
Whoa! “Permitting evil” and “compelling evil” – that’s heavy stuff. How can you justify this language?
The law in Victoria regrettably illustrates this. In Victoria we have unrestricted abortion right through to term by any method and without any consideration of anaesthesia for the baby. As there are no restrictions for reason there is effectively state approval of eugenic selection of anything regarded as less than perfect through to birth, including readily correctable abnormalities such as cleft lip. And – worse still – in Victoria we have legal compulsion of doctors to act against their conscience. Doctors are compelled to refer to a doctor they know will support a request for abortion.
Whoa again – that’s too much to take in!
Yes, agreed. It seems that the general public in Victoria have no idea what their government has done or have failed to realise its significance. But tragically it’s real.
But there must be some checks and balances surely?
Up to 24 weeks it only requires the mother’s request and a doctor to do it. Over 24 weeks it only requires one doctor in addition to the abortionist to agree with the mother. And if the doctor does not agree then he or she has to find a doctor who will.
Surely that cannot be?
One would think not but written into the legislation is the Section 8 provision to force doctors – even when such is against their deeply held convictions and conscience – to refer for abortion when asked by a patient. Now it is one thing to pass a law that permits evil but it is something more to pass a law that compels evil.
What does this mean for the election?
Candidates have been asked will they vote to support a motion to repeal Section 8. This gives a very clear indication as to whether a candidate supports the compulsion of doctors to violate their conscience and be complicit in what they believe to be wrong. This compulsion is in itself evil. So all Victorians will know whether their local candidate supports this evil.
And for me?
Each Victorian has a choice between good and evil this election. Will you vote for a candidate who will do nothing to reverse this compulsion or will you vote for a candidate who will support the removal of Section 8? Surely, a clear choice – unless you choose, exercising your conscientious objection, not to vote at all
Are you saying I am supporting evil if I vote for someone who supports Section 8?
I believe you would be denying that which to me is undeniable truth or you would be choosing to support evil. I leave it to you to decide which of these apply. It may seem a small issue compared with other crises we face but it is a defining issue in terms of a clear choice between good and evil. You will find candidates responses at http://www.repealsection8.net.au/
Lachlan Dunjey 18 Nov 2010 defending human life; defending liberty of conscience.
PS how do we get this known? Only by talking about it and sending the link to this on.
PS2 this is a revision for the Victorian election of http://www.chooselifeaustralia.org.au/life/where-was-the-christian-vote-in-the-federal-election/
