and so does the NSW Ecumenical Council: news/2004/ecumenical-council-re-federal-election_07-10-04.htm
Peter R. Ellis & family wrote:
Allow me to un-confuse you, as I now find that ACL didn't put their media release on their web site very promptly. Here's the text.+++ MEDIA RELEASE 8th October 2004 CHRISTIAN VOTE NOT TO BE DISCOUNTED With the election result still too close to call, the Christian constituency will figure strongly in marginal seats. Just under 6000 Christian voters have attended Meet Your Candidate Forums (MYCF) organised by the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) across Australia. Christian voters are shaping up as the key constituency to woo. “We have been quite ambitious with our Forums this year but it has clearly paid off,” said Jim Wallace, Executive Chairman of the ACL. “More than ever, Christians are interested in politics and want to know what their candidates stand for. We run professional forums that allow Christian voters to assess their candidates.” ACL has conducted 38 Forums in Federal electorates plus 3 Forums in the Australian Capital Territory for Local elections. The results have been amazing. For example, the electorate of Bass in Tasmania is widely considered to be a close contest. The outcome could well be decided by the 250 people that attended the Meet Your Candidate Forum. Likewise, Solomon in the Northern Territory is held by less than 100 votes. The impact of Christians in deciding this seat must be considered crucial because almost 300 people attended the ACL Forum. This totals 5955 people across Australia listening and asking questions to their local candidate at an ACL run Forum. Attendees at Forums are certain to tell their family, friends and fellow Christians about the candidates that they heard from. When this is taken into account, the reach of ACL Forums must be considered to be in the tens of thousands. “Parties that have not recognised the size of the Christian constituency will see an effect at the polls,” remarked Mr. Wallace. “Christian voters can not be ignored.” +++The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) http://www.acl.org.au (they are NOT the Family First party) has issued a media release "Christian constituency not to be ignored" discussing the 6,000 people, some in crucial marginal electorates, who have attended their meetings over the last several weeks at which candidates have been questioned on Christian values. Here is the media release page. http://www.acl.org.au/home/media_releases.stw I know Jim Wallace, the Executive Chairman of ACL, passingly well. It's worth a look to see what they are saying.
-- Stephen Webb Media Officer Communications Unit NSW Synod, Uniting Church in Australia Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: +61 2 8267 4308; Mobile: 0423 259 945; Fax: 9267 4716; Web: nsw.uca.org.au/cu/ & insights.uca.org.au/ ------------------ The Communications Unit publishes the monthly magazine Insights, conducts public relations for the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church, and provides a variety of communications services. These include writing, editing, web consultation and development, desktop publishing and graphic design, public relations and advertising. For a consultation or free estimate on your project call the Communications Unit at (02) 8267 4307.
