1987
1987.3. Immigration Policy
Submitted 20 November 1987 to the Committee to Advise on Australia’s Immigration Policies
Published: Victorian Humanist, Feb. 1988: 11.
To the Secretary,
Committee to Advise on Australia’s Immigration Policies.
SUBMISSION ON AUSTRALIA’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES
(then follows three pages of detail, concluding with the following summary. Ed., V.H.)
We summarise our submission as follows:
• The nine fundamental principles based on the 1978 Green Paper form a rational and compassionate policy on immigration to Australia.
• The social and humanitarian objectives should be managed to promote economic benefit or to minimise adverse economic effect.
• Well researched manpower planning should be the basis for selection of skilled migrants.
• The Migrant and Multicultural Programs and Services should facilitate the learning of English for those who lack this essential skill.
• In the often conflicting cultural needs of parents and children, the right of the child to develop a full potential should be protected.
• The needs of parents to maintain cultural links with their children would be met by the teaching of specific language, history and tradition within each ethnic group.
• We see a serious threat of conflict arising from the divisiveness that many religions engender. We therefore urge strongly that any specific religious education not be provided by the State but exist only in private. As a measure towards tolerance and cohesiveness of this community, schools should instruct in comparative religion.
• As a condition of entry into this country a declaration should be made to desist from illegal practices such as female genital mutilation.
• In a similar way settlers in this country should undertake not to continue their former national, political or religious hostilities.
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1987.4. Health Issues
Submitted 30 November 1987 to the Minister for Health, Victoria.
Published: Victorian Humanist, April 1988: 8.
R e p o r t
SUBMISSIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
In November last year we made a sub¬mission to the Minister for Health, David White, on a number of issues raised by him at public meetings.
Our concern was with the prevention of mental and physical disability. We argued that the following measures were urgently needed:
• Research into causes of gross prema¬turity.
• Publicise the availability and encou¬rage the use of genetic counselling.
• Allow research on pre-emplantable em¬bryos as to the causes of prematurity and genetic and congenital foetal damage.
• Implement compulsory rubella (measles) vaccination of infants of both sexes with a booster in teenage years.
• Publicise the importance of early ante-natal screening tests for mater¬nal infections including toxoplasmosis.
• Educate the community on the risks of foetal damage associated with alcohol intake during pregnancy.
• Encourage therapeutic abortions when foetal damage is confirmed.
• Implement the recommendations of the Inquiry into Options for Dying with Dignity, i.e. respect the wishes of patients with terminal illness to refuse medical treatment.
We pointed out that the rigid appli¬cation of the principle of sanctity of life without regard to sentience, or to the degree of suffering, or to condit¬ions that cause unbearable indignities, is both irrational and inhumane.
Self-inflicted or life-style ill-health
We urged as a preventive measure the introduction of health education at all levels of schooling as an obligatory subject.
It should instruct on the consequen¬ces of the use of tobacco, the overuse of alcohol and other drugs, the health risks associated with obesity, the ben¬efits of good nutrition, hygiene and physical activity.
It should inculcate the responsibil¬ity for one’s health.
In a manner appropriate to the age of the pupil, information about the many sexually transmissible diseases should be supplied.
Minister’s Reply
We received a most comprehensive reply from the Minister, listing the Government’s policy, allocation of funds, provision of services and the legal position on each issue raised.
His letter is a valuable source of information on some health strategies and could serve as a reference in future submissions.
Of particular benefit is the des¬cription of new educative programmes developed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board designed to promo¬te primary prevention of ill-health. Subjects deal with drugs, smoking, nut¬rition, sexually transmitted diseases, challenges of personal growth and soci¬etal changes.
The aim is to maximise the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-be¬ing. Methods include: workshops for teachers on such subjects as drug educ¬ation, publications, theatre product¬ions, consultancies, ongoing updating of resource materials.
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1987. Gun Control. [Submission by the Coalition for Gun Control, with H.S.V. consultation]
Published: Victorian Humanist, Oct. 1987: 5 – 6; Aug. 1988: 3.
COALITION FOR GUN CONTROL
The Hoddle Street shootings in August this year occurred close to the house where Jac Renzinbrick lives with his wife and two children.
In the aftermath of the tragedy he and some of his neighbours formed the Coalition for Gun Control with the aim of bringing together organisations and individuals concerned about gun misuse and violence in the community.
The group has researched existing legislation on control of various types of guns and ammunition in Australia and in other countries, formulated a set of aims and principles and a draft submission (printed below) .
The HSV, among others, was invited to participate in these efforts. Jac kindly attended our discussion group (13 September) on this subject, making it a more informed debate and patiently tackling the devil’s advocate’s questions and statements.
Submission on Gun Control Legislation from the Coalition for Gun Control
Statement of Principles
We believe that:
I in view of (i) the amount of death, injury and distress caused in our society by guns, and (ii) the unacceptable power to control others that guns give a person, that the private possession of guns in urban areas cannot be justified;
II legitimate gun users must be strictly controlled and must be prepared to accept some inconvenience for the safety of other citizens;
III in order to protect citizens from gun misuse, police must be given wide powers of investigation following criminal gun misuse [but HSV possible alternative is the police should be given every assistance to do their job of protecting the community].
IV every citizen must be made aware that our society will not tolerate the misuse of guns.
SUBMISSION
1. A Gun Control Authority must be formed with the responsibility of licensing of shooters and registration of firearms. This body must be the major source of gun legislation proposals. The authority should have an advisory committee which decides policy and is composed of a wide range of community representat¬ives. The costs associated with this Authority are to be borne by revenue from shooters’ licenses and gun registration fees.
2. The Gun Control Authority will require that an application for a shooter’s licence, giving reasons for requiring a gun, is supported by two guarantors who are people of responsibility in the applicant’s own community. The applicant and guarantors are to appear before a panel nominated by the Authority.
3. Shooters licences are to be renewed yearly, and guarantors consulted. A guaran¬tor can withdraw at any time, thus making the licence invalid and necessitating the impounding of firearms by the Authority. The licence can be reinstated with a suitable -new guarantor. The Authority itself may withdraw the licence under certain circumstances.
4. To ensure the applicant’s competence and maturity an examination must be passed which demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the responsibilities and dangers of gun use. Licence applicants must be exposed to the consequences of gun misuse.
5. All ammunition must be of a type approved by the Authority with limits on the quantities sold at any one time. The ammunition seller must report details of sales to the Authority. Shooters may only buy ammunition for the type of gun(s) which they have registered.
6. In urban areas guns are to be kept in an approved repository controlled by the Authority. Advance notice of 24 hours must be given before a gun is released.
7. Semi-automatic and pump action weapons are to be banned and conversion of guns after they have been registered will be illegal.
8. Every private gun must be registered by the Authority and no/ exchange of guns is to be allowed without prior permission from the Authority.
9. The Authority will be responsible for gun research and continuing community education in aspects of gun ownership.
Some points made during our discussion
. . .
[Text in cursive type: would not scan adequately.]
. . .
Additional comments by readers will be very welcome.
[Postscript: from the Victorian Humanist, Aug. 1988: 3]
Coalition for Gun Control (CGC)
Since our last report, several meet¬ings of the CGC Vic. Committee have taken place, a federal body — the Aust¬ralian Coalition for Gun Control — or¬ganised, the first issue of Gun cont¬rol Review, a quarterly publication, was distributed, and a one-day interstate conference was held in Melbourne on 5 June.This conference, hosted by the Australian Bank Employees Union (ABEU), and chaired by Dr David Neal, Commissioner in charge of LRC [Law Reform Commission] Vic., discussed papers, videos and com¬ments presented by the representatives of the following groups: Tasmanian Law¬yers Association, Tas CGC, ABEU, NSW CGC and some women’s groups, HSV, Anim¬al Protection, and Social Justice Dept. of the Uniting Church.
This conference established valuable contacts between groups and discussed their differences in priorities and approach to gun misuse and control.
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[End of 1987]
