The national school chaplaincy program which received $222 million in this month's Federal Budget, is to be challenged as 'unconstitutional' in the High Court.
While Australia's constitution does not separate church and state, section 116, says the Commonwealth cannot make any law for 'establishing any religion', 'imposing any religious observance' or 'prohibiting the free exercise of any religion'. Section 116 also says 'no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth'.
A Queensland parent, Ron Williams, is relying on this in mounting his challenge. He argues the program is invalid because it sets a religious test for anyone who wishes to be a Commonwealth-funded chaplain.
Read more in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Showing posts with label federal budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label federal budget. Show all posts
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Mental health gets healthy $1.5 billion
May 10, 2011
The mentally ill are the most invisible of sufferers in our society and this has often been reflected in government policy and funding.
Keep reading to see what Treasurer Wayne Swan said about his mental health funding initiatives in tonight’s 2011 federal budget speech.
And check some early response to the announcement in this report from the ABC. It qualifies Mr Swan’s announcement by showing that the funding is slow to be rolled out and there will be other losses along the way.
The mentally ill are the most invisible of sufferers in our society and this has often been reflected in government policy and funding.
Keep reading to see what Treasurer Wayne Swan said about his mental health funding initiatives in tonight’s 2011 federal budget speech.
And check some early response to the announcement in this report from the ABC. It qualifies Mr Swan’s announcement by showing that the funding is slow to be rolled out and there will be other losses along the way.
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