Media Release - 24 June 20010 

In pdf form: Gillard as PM - June 2010.

The election of Julia Gillard as Prime Minister reveals the deep divisions within the Labor party, with factional leaders and Unions conspiring to change the leader of the party.

The failed policies and broken promises of the Rudd government led to the appointment of Julia Gillard as leader of the Party, and thus as Prime Minister.

"However, since she was Deputy Prime Minister throughout the term of Mr Rudd's government, Julia Gillard must take some responsibility for those failed promises. In particular she is ultimately responsible for the rorts in the Building the Education Revolution'," said Peter Stokes, Executive Director of Salt Shakers, a Christian Ethics Group.

Mr Stokes said "We are particularly concerned at the feminist and socialist agenda of Julia Gillard - including her membership of the Fabian Society - a socialist group - and her membership of Emily's list, a very feminist, pro-abortion group in the Labor Party."

We are also concerned that we now have an unmarried Prime Minister living in the Lodge with her de facto 'partner. This is not a situation that puts the emphasis on marriage and family - rather, it undermines it.

The appointment of Julia Gillard as Prime Minister highlights the control that the various factions and the Union movement have in the Labor Party, since it appears that when the 'Right' faction of the ALP expressed concern about Kevin Rudd's leadership the move was on to dump him as leader.

Mr Stokes concluded "With volatility in the leadership of both the major parties, it is vital that all Australians carefully analyse what all the Parties stand for and assess the values of the candidates in their own electorates, rather than just focusing on the 'leader' of a Party."

CONTACT:
Peter Stokes
Executive Director - Salt Shakers
Phone: 03 9800 2855 Mobile: 0413 084 145

September 8, 2009.

Pdf version - Media Release: Greens Euthanasia Bill Abhorrent

South Australia's proposed Voluntary Euthanasia Bill is totally abhorrent to right minded

Australians.

"In the first instance, it represents a direct violation of the Biblical command not to murder"

said Peter Stokes, CEO of Christian Ethics group Salt Shakers. "Additionally, it can promote

a death culture within the Health Care system."

As Tasmania's AMA president Chris Middleton recently affirmed, "legalising euthanasia would

definitely "poison" the doctor-patient relationship, creating fear and distrust." 1 "We agree",

said Peter Stokes.

We also agree with the Royal College of Nursing statement that voluntary euthanasia could

lead to exploitation of vulnerable elderly Australians from relatives looking to gain financially. (1)

Many Christians would find it abhorrent, and be deeply grieved, to learn that a group calling

itself "Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Euthanasia" is supporting the push for

legally "assisted" death.

"To suggest that we can determine for God, supposedly on compassionate grounds, when

life should end is reprehensible!" Said Peter Stokes.

However, just as we should not attempt to pre-empt death, neither should we advocate that

artificial methods be used to unnecessarily prolong life in situations involving terminal illness.

Salt Shakers is calling on the South Australian parliament to vehemently reject the proposed

Greens Bill.

Contact: Peter Stokes
Executive Director - Salt Shakers
Phone: 03 9800 2855 Mobile: 0413 084 145

Reference:

1. Doctors label euthanasia bill 'poison', ABC News Aug 25, 2009.

Issued - 7 September 2009

Pdf version: Children's rights paramount

All children deserve the right to proper legal recognition of their mother and father.

"Tasmania's Lower House have been irresponsible towards children by giving legal recognition to lesbian partners on a child's birth certificate", said Peter Stokes, CEO of Christian Ethics group Salt Shakers.

"This further compounds Tasmania's government irresponsibility by allowing same-sex partners access to IVF.

No Government should make it easy for people to do the wrong thing. It is wrong for governments to endorse deliberately bringing children into this world who would not receive the immediate nurture of their biological mother and father".

The proposed amendments to Tasmania's Adoption Act and Status of Children Act creates biological fiction. Children should know who their biological father and mother are on their Birth Certificate.

But in a wider context, "children raised by same-sex lesbian couples face a far higher increased low self-esteem, stress, confusion regarding sexual identity, increased mental illness, drug use, promiscuity, sexually transmitted infections and homosexual behaviour" as Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien points out.

"By denying children the benefits of a mother and a father in a committed marriage definitely causes great harm to a weak and vulnerable minority that we should strive to protect," said Peter Stokes.

We call on the Tasmanian Upper House to totally reject this Bill.

CONTACT Peter Stokes

Executive Director - Salt Shakers

Phone: 03 9800 2855 Mobile: 0413 084 145

Reference:
Comments on same-sex parenting by Cardinal Keith O'Brien - source.

24 July 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Anti-Discrimination Farce

A lesbian party organiser has won the legal right to ban men from her parties - and so she should. "In fact, she should not have had to ask for permission," said Peter Stokes CEO of Christian ethics group Salt Shakers.

The decision, made by VCAT Judge Marilyn Harbison, is a common sense reply to calls by Mr Hulls to ban all discrimination and flies in the face of his claim that men-only clubs should have to justify why they do not allow women through the door.

The whole notion of anti-discrimination laws against anything that is a choice, such as lifestyle, sexuality and sexual orientation, religious belief, etc, will ALWAYS infringe on someone else's freedom to choose.

While arbitrary discrimination based on ethnic origin, sex and skin colour are generally always wrong because they are not matters of choice, there are many situations where discrimination based on sex is necessary, especially in the workplace.

"Education, rather than 'laws', would be a much better way to deal with any arbitrary discrimination based on innate characteristics," said Peter Stokes.

"The current review of exceptions to the Equal Opportunity Act should be abolished and the anti-discrimination laws themselves should be repealed."

"It is time to give the people of Victoria back their freedom to choose, their freedom to choose their own standards of right and wrong and their freedom of speech without BIG Brother Mr Hulls breathing down their neck while holding a big stick in his hand," said Peter Stokes.

Free speech and robust public discussion on issues of faith, values and behaviour should be at or near the top of any list is a human rights.

Peter Stokes said "I do not accept lesbian relationships as normal or healthy, but people have the right to decide in whose company they spend their leisure time - just as churches, political parties and employers of any size business should have the freedom to decide who they will employ."

Peter Stokes
Executive Director - Salt Shakers
Phone: 03 9800 2855 Mobile: 0413 084 145
Email: peter@saltshakers.org.au

Newspaper article - "Lesbian dance parties no-go zone for men"

16 June 2009

Delay in IVF services for same-sex couples is good news for children

"New evidence shows that children raised by homosexual couples are 4 to 7 times more likely to be homosexual themselves," said Peter Stokes, Executive Officer of Salt Shakers.

"The delay in allowing same-sex couples to have access to IVF should be permanent," he said.

"There are significant differences between children raised by a heterosexual couple and those raised by homosexual couples," said Peter Stokes.

Dr Trayce Hansen, a US psychologist, analysed nine pro-homosexual studies of same-sex parenting. She found that, although the researchers said there was 'no difference' in reality they actually show that children raised by homosexual couples are 4 to 7 times more likely to be homosexual.

She found the researchers did not include their findings about this increased likelihood in their 'summaries' and in some cases did not even refer to the results in the main body of their findings.

"This is a clear case of selective reporting of results, leading to false claims that there is no difference between children raised by heterosexual couples and homosexual couples," said Peter Stokes.

Other researchers, such as Patricia Morgan, author of Children as Trophies, have previously exposed flaws in the methodology of the studies.

"The VLRC chose to use the biased and flawed pro-homosexual research despite the clear evidence from most social researchers that children do best when raised by their biological mother and father. Children never have this opportunity when same-sex couples use IVF to have children," said Mr Stokes.

One of the VLRC research papers was written by Ruth McNair, the leader of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby's Fertility Rights Access Group. She used the same pro-homosexual studies to suggest that there was 'no difference' if children were raised by homosexuals.

"We call on the VLRC and the Victorian government to review the decisions they have made to allow IVF and surrogacy for same-sex couples, based on this new evidence," said Peter Stokes.

Peter Stokes
Executive Director - Salt Shakers
Phone: 03 9800 2855 Mobile: 0413 084 145

References:
Dr Hansen's Review

Summary of Review

Media Release

20 April 2009

Say NO to alcohol, especially for teenagers and pregnant women

Researchers at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute recently announced 'We got it wrong!' "Now that researchers admit there is no safe level of teenage drinking, that must mean the 'WOWSERS' got it RIGHT!" said Jenny Stokes, Research Director of Christian group Salt Shakers.

"We, and many others who have been called 'wowsers' (We Only Want Social Evils Removed), have said for a long time that one of those evils is alcohol. That has now been proven, especially for teenagers and pregnant women," she said.

]]> nathan.keen@agapemedia.com.au (Administrator) Media Releases Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:51:13 +0000 http://www.saltshakers.agap3.com/news/media-releases/381-sydney-mardi-gras http://www.saltshakers.agap3.com/news/media-releases/381-sydney-mardi-gras MEDIA RELEASE

Salt Shakers Media Release

6 March 2009

Sydney mardi gras

Will the media tell the truth this year or continue to perpetuate the fraud? Asks Peter Stokes CEO of Christian ethics group Salt Shakers.

Remember 2006? 200,000 people are still missing! In 2006, mardi gras organisers REDUCED their crowd estimate by 200,000 OVERNIGHT because the media started asking questions - 500,000 on the Saturday night became 300,000 on Sunday morning! NO SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN <http://www.saltshakers.org.au/html/P/9/ B/335/>

Media release

January 2009

Nixon should not march in homosexual Pride march

Almost the first thing Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon did when appointed was to endorse and march in the Melbourne homosexual pride march of 2002.

NOW, one of the last things she will do is to again march in the same homosexual parade.

"We understand that she and Rob Hulls will also address the 'Party' crowd afterwards with a message of support also being presented from Deputy PM Julia Gillard. The normalisation of homosexuality by these people is a disgrace!" Said Peter Stokes, of Christian group Salt Shakers "Mr Hulls will probably be telling them that the Victorian government has endorsed their minority lifestyle by passing many laws to accommodate and endorse homosexuality." He said "Their allegiance to, and support of, a parade that 'honours' a lifestyle many still believe immoral and one that is certainly unhealthy and dangerous, is nothing short of irresponsible." Peter Stokes said.

]]> nathan.keen@agapemedia.com.au (Administrator) Media Releases Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:42:56 +0000 http://www.saltshakers.agap3.com/news/media-releases/379-thirty-eight-advertisers-dump-californication http://www.saltshakers.agap3.com/news/media-releases/379-thirty-eight-advertisers-dump-californication MEDIA RELEASE

Media Release

25 November 2008

Thirty eight advertisers dump Californication

Thirty eight advertisers have instructed Channel 10 not to run their advertisements during the sleazy US cable television show Californication, which is two thirds the way though its second series of 12 episodes.  Channel 10 began screening Californication at 9.30 pm on Sundays but has pushed it back to 10.30 pm due to its failure to attract ratings and advertisers in the earlier timeslot.

The advertisers have responded to requests from community action groups Salt Shakers and FamilyVoice Australia.  Californication's lead actor David Duchovny was recently in rehab for sex addiction which therapists say may have been exacerbated by his role.  A NSW psychiatrist who treats people with sex addiction told FamilyVoice Australia that the increasing availability of pornography - including TV shows like Californication - is doing great damage to marriages and families.

]]> nathan.keen@agapemedia.com.au (Administrator) Media Releases Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:40:16 +0000 http://www.saltshakers.agap3.com/news/media-releases/378--everyones-doing-it http://www.saltshakers.agap3.com/news/media-releases/378--everyones-doing-it MEDIA RELEASE

Media Release

27 February 2008

Everyone's Doing It!

Grand Prix organizers have admitted it, and it's time for the Sydney mardi gras organizers to admit it too! "If Grand Prix organizers, who sell tickets, don't know their actual attendance figures, how easy is it for Mardi gras parade organisers to exaggerate non ticket attendance figures?" asks Peter Stokes CEO of Christian ethics group Salt Shakers.

In 3 years, 1996-98, Mardi gras organizers raised their attendance figures from an already exaggerated 300,000 up to 500,000 and then to 700,000. A 200,000 increase per YEAR! Overnight in 2006 the organisers REDUCED their crowd 'estimate' DOWN from 500,000 on the Saturday night to 300,000 on Sunday morning! Full story http://www.saltshakers.org.au/html/P/9/B/335/ Why? Because they were challenged by the media and us.

SMH article at http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-fairytale-ending-to-the-night-before/2006/03/05/1141493548859.html The only person seemingly prepared to accurately assess mardi gras numbers is homosexual journalist Adam Carr, who said in 2000, that the real attendance figure was between 60,000 and 75,000. http://www.adam-carr.net/bnews/2002/bnm3.txt In 2003, the police finally admitted the figures were false and stopped endorsing the exaggerated estimates given by the Mardi gras organizers. This abandonment, in 2002 came after police forced organisers to reduce the estimate down 100,000 each year for 3 years (1999 - 2001).

They dragged them down to 400,000 but knew that was still excessive.

"If there really were 400,000 it would require 48 rows of people on EACH side of the parade," Peter Stokes said.

It is not difficult to estimate crowd numbers along a defined route. The Mardi gras route is LESS than 2 km long. Using 2 people for every metre along the route gives a row of 4000 people. Even if there are 10 rows on each side of the parade, that would mean 40,000 on each side of the parade. If you then allow, even another 10,000 on balconies and roofs and 10,000 marching in the parade itself, this is still only a total of 100,000.

The fact is, there are rarely even 5 rows of people on each side of the route - more than this severely restricts the viewing except at Hyde Park and Taylor Sq. Therefore, Adam Carr's estimate of 5 rows of people along the whole route, allowing a very 'squeezy' 3 people per metre, giving a total of approx 60,000 -75,000 people in attendance, is very credible.

It's time for honesty and accuracy on this issue of crowd attendance from organisers because they use the inflated figures for all types of promotional and financial advantage.

We call on the media to give a more accurate assessment of the crowd at Mardi gras this weekend rather than just reporting the propaganda figures given to them by the organisers.

We will be monitoring the mardi gras and the media reports this weekend to assess accountability.

For more details or media interviews contact Peter Stokes.

CEO, Salt Shakers Inc.

Office: 03 9800 2855 Mbl: 0413 084 145