Queensland Secular Party responds to our question list

You can view our question list for all candidates here.

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#1 on the ticket for the Secular Party in Queensland, Kat Alberts, responded :

> What are your thoughts on asylum seekers?
The Secular Party deplores xenophobic attempts to demonise refugees and asylum seekers. We support continuation of an immigration program that is both economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable, and which provides sufficient allowance for our humanitarian obligations. We note that migrants to Australia must agree to respect certain values, including the equality of men and women, as part of the Australian Values Statement in the immigration application form. It is the policy of the Secular Party to consider means by which migrants may be required to respect these values that they have already agreed to.

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> What are your thoughts on public transport?

Not high on our priority at this stage. We will do what needs to be done as the need arises.
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> What are your thoughts on renewable energy?

We recognise global warming as a significant and dire threat to global civilisation. To address the problem, global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced dramatically. Existing “cap and trade” proposals may not achieve anything like the magnitude of reduction required. They may therefore be a counterproductive diversion. The required emission reductions can best be achieved by the global cessation of emissions from coal-fired electricity generation. This requires the phased introduction of a carbon tax, nationally and internationally.

The cost of investment in alternative energy production will be at least a hundred billion dollars in Australia alone. This can be financed from revenue from the carbonl tax. To facilitate the introduction of this tax internationally, and to ease the transition for Australian industry, the Secular Party proposes an International Coal Tax to be levied on coal exports, in conjunction with other coal exporters. Revenue from the tax would be distributed domestically and internationally to assist structural adjustment and provide welfare compensation.

All forms of alternative base-load energy production will need to be utilised, including geothermal, tidal and nuclear. Given Australia’s prominence in the world supply of uranium, the Secular Party considers that it is Australia’s responsibility, and to our advantage, to participate in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, including power generation and waste disposal.
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> Do you support or oppose the introduction of the R18+ rating
> classification for video games?
The Secular Party supports the right to access legal information and entertainment. Internet censorship is a tool commonly used by tyrannical regimes. It is hypocritical for Australia to introduce a broad internet censorship scheme which is in principle no different from an authoritarian one.

Under current laws, the Australian Communications and Media Authority may investigate and fine websites hosted in Australia if they contain illegal material; we believe that this is an appropriate method of regulating internet content. Given the technical and ethical concerns with a broad filtering of all internet content, the Secular Party is opposed to any kind of internet filter.

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> Do you support or oppose the proposed internet filter?
No. See above.
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> Do you support or oppose gay marriage?

Not a government’s call. The Secular Party believes in equality and that the stipulation that marriage must be between a man and a woman discriminates against same-sex couples. The Secular Party also believes that civil marriages and the celebrants who perform them should have equal status with religious marriages and celebrants. It is therefore the policy of the Secular Party that all those authorised to solemnise marriages do so with reference to the fact that “marriage is a voluntary union entered into for life by two people to the exclusion of all others”. It is also our policy that civil celebrants should have a status equal to ministers of religion in relation to witnessing statutory declarations, and in relation to GST exemption.
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> What are your thoughts on abortion?

Personal freedoms should be based on modern secular humanist principles. Only secularism can guarantee religious freedom, and we endorse this freedom. However those who adhere to faith-based morality frequently seek to impose their religious views on the entire population. This occurs in policies concerning areas such as abortion, voluntary euthanasia, stem cell research, drug policy and gay rights.

The Secular Party believes in equal human rights. Same-sex couples should enjoy the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples, in inheritance, and for all ceremonial, financial, legal and medical purposes. Our policies on issues of high moral content, such as abortion and voluntary euthanasia, favour freedom of choice, and are based on rational assessment of the relevant issues.
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> Do you support or oppose the legalisation of volutary euthanasia?
Support. See above
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> What are your thoughts on stem cells research?
Support. See above.
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> What are your thoughts on education?

The Secular Party recognises the economic and social importance of education and its role in the promotion of universal secular values and social harmony. The Secular Party supports the 19th century notion that education be “universal, secular and free”. In recent decades, this principle has been disregarded, and there has been a massive shift in funding towards private schools. Privilege has been entrenched and indoctrination encouraged. The seeds of future divisiveness and sectarianism have been sown. We seek to reverse these trends.

The Secular Party recognises the public good of public education. This is best provided by high quality and inclusive government schools, incorporating teaching based on universal values and principles.

It is the policy of the Secular Party that the current system of state funding for private schools be replaced by a tax rebate for private school expenses. The maximum rebate shall be determined on the basis of the marginal cost of educating a child in the public system. The rebate shall not apply to any expenses for schools that exhibit a bias in favour of any religion.

The Secular Party also supports an adequately funded tertiary education sector. The future economic health of the country depends upon investment in education.
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> What are your thoughts on campaign finance disclosure?
The Secular Party has no problem with disclosure, probity and transparency regarding issues in the public interest.
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> What are your thoughts on climate change?
We recognise global warming as a significant and dire threat to global civilisation. To address the problem, global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced dramatically. Existing “cap and trade” proposals may not achieve anything like the magnitude of reduction required. They may therefore be a counterproductive diversion. The required emission reductions can best be achieved by the global cessation of emissions from coal-fired electricity generation. This requires the phased introduction of a carbon tax, nationally and internationally.

The cost of investment in alternative energy production will be at least a hundred billion dollars in Australia alone. This can be financed from revenue from the carbonl tax. To facilitate the introduction of this tax internationally, and to ease the transition for Australian industry, the Secular Party proposes an International Coal Tax to be levied on coal exports, in conjunction with other coal exporters. Revenue from the tax would be distributed domestically and internationally to assist structural adjustment and provide welfare compensation.

All forms of alternative base-load energy production will need to be utilised, including geothermal, tidal and nuclear. Given Australia’s prominence in the world supply of uranium, the Secular Party considers that it is Australia’s responsibility, and to our advantage, to participate in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, including power generation and waste disposal.
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> What are your thoughts on water?

Not high on our priority at this stage. We will do what needs to be done as the need arises.
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> Do you support or oppose standing order 50?
Opposed. To ensure that new Australian citizens understand that their primary loyalty must be to Australia and its values, not their religion, it is the policy of the Secular Party that there be a uniform Citizenship Pledge, to be used at citizenship ceremonies, as follows:

“From this time forward, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights, liberties and values I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey.”
NB: Compared with the existing Pledge, the word “values” is inserted, and the optional words “under God” are deleted.
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> Are there any local issues you are trying to highlight with your campaign?

The churches make millions of dollars per year and never pay any tax. They preach about tithing and squeezing every last dollar out of Mr and Mrs Australia, regardless of their socio-economic background.
If the churches paid even a small amount of tax, it would probably eliminate a great chunk of the national debt. It’s time the churches contributed to society financially and paid their way like the rest of us.

Religious institutions receive significant advantages in terms of tax exemptions and benefits. At the same time these institutions are largely unaccountable for their receipt and distribution of funds. The policy of the Secular Party is to end these religious tax exemptions and subsidies. This will benefit the average taxpayer and a level playing field will be provided for all charities.

The Secular Party supports the setting up of a Charities Commission to supervise the appropriate administration of not-for-profit organisations. The Secular Party supports the proposal that a public benefit test be applied as a qualification for the granting of tax exemptions for religious organisations. The Secular Party proposes that the “advancement of religion” is not of itself sufficient to warrant exemptions under the definition of charitable purpose or public benefit.

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> Though group voting tickets have not been submitted yet, do you have an
> idea on where your preferences will be going?

Roughly – Democrats, Sex Party, Greens, majors, left wing extremists, Christian parties
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