Tony Abbott to keep secular workers out of school chaplaincy program - Polidicks

[quote]The Abbott government is pushing ahead with a religious-only school chaplaincy scheme following a cabinet debate over whether secular welfare workers should be included in the program. The government was forced to redesign the $244 million scheme after the High Court ruled it invalid in June for the second time in two years. The court found the Commonwealth had over-reached its funding powers by providing direct payments to chaplain providers. In a bid to prevent another High Court challenge, the federal government will provide funding to state and territory governments to administer the scheme. This new arrangement strengthens the hand of the states and could see some demand an option for secular welfare workers or tougher qualification standards. In a cabinet meeting on Monday, Abbott government ministers explored options to extend the scheme to include funding for secular welfare workers. This would have reversed the government's existing policy that funding should be restricted to religious chaplains. During the cabinet discussion, Mr Abbott argued that the government should stand by its existing policy. Mr Abbott argued the scheme's original intent was supporting pastoral care in schools and that should remain its focus. The chaplaincy scheme was also raised in the Coalition party room on Tuesday, where at least two government members argued the scheme should be broadened to include funding for secular workers. The chaplaincy scheme was introduced by the Howard government in 2006. Labor expanded the scheme to include funding for secular welfare workers in 2011 – an option the government scrapped in this year's budget. [/quote] Source: [url]http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-to-keep-secular-workers-out-of-school-chaplaincy-program-20140827-1091u0.html[/url]

What a fucking joke, I worked in schools for a while and met a bunch of youth workers, they are usually very nice people, I feel sorry for them and the kids.

And how did you guys get this guy in office

[QUOTE=Map in a box;45821270]And how did you guys get this guy in office[/QUOTE] He got in due to Labour being too busy back stabbing each other during the lead up to the election instead of focusing on the election.

[QUOTE=Map in a box;45821270]And how did you guys get this guy in office[/QUOTE] The majority of political sway belongs to the hands of an older generation with the self awareness of a retard exploring his first boner. No coherent thought process went behind the votes for the Liberal government beyond short term solutions and buying into buzz words in newspaper and media outlets.

It was more the biased media misinforming people about how terrible the current government is. Can't have that evil carbon tax.

[QUOTE=Captain James;45821370]The majority of political sway belongs to the hands of an older generation with the self awareness of a retard exploring his first boner. No coherent thought process went behind the votes for the Liberal government beyond short term solutions and buying into buzz words in newspaper and media outlets.[/QUOTE] This. All the old people could think of was "Muh retirement pension" in fear that poor people were stealing it from them.

[QUOTE=download;45821756]This. All the old people could think of was "Muh retirement pension" in fear that poor people were stealing it from them.[/QUOTE] and the Coalition wants to tighten eligibility for the pension by raising the retirement age lol

I think many are already beginning to think that the Liberals are coming off much more stupid and incoherent than the Labor Government it replaced. Don't forget the $7 co-payment for GP's and any other health-care related appointment / treatment session which has been known that the Liberals won't add in the exemption of the elderly, he's screwing over his own hard-core powerbase. I think it's only a matter of time until Governor-General Peter Cosgrove will have to pull the strings on parliament and dissolve it.

This is hilariously fucked up considering the fact that the high court has upheld the challenge my QLD friend Ronnie Williams has made twice.

We're all very optimistic here at Facepunch Studios forum aren't we. Tony Abbott got in because Australians have an underlying mentality that is completely selfish. I am pretty sure that the majority of Australians would prefer a liberal government but not one with Abbott in charge. That government would only be slightly different from the current one. Neither major party is any good anyway. They only have their good players, heavily mixed with the bad ones.

well it makes sense since a secular chaplain seems like an oxymoron. but the chaplaincy in schools idea in the first place is absolutely stupid anyway

[QUOTE=gerbe1;45822666]We're all very optimistic here at Facepunch Studios forum aren't we. Tony Abbott got in because Australians have an underlying mentality that is completely selfish. I am pretty sure that the majority of Australians would prefer a liberal government but not one with Abbott in charge. That government would only be slightly different from the current one. Neither major party is any good anyway. They only have their good players, heavily mixed with the bad ones.[/QUOTE] True enough, but I personally think that government on all levels needs more constitutional reforms and an addition of a bill of rights on the federal scale before continuing. Similar high-court inquiries such as the ICAC in NSW should be carried out nation wide too.

[QUOTE=shutter_eye5;45822729]True enough, but I personally think that government on all levels needs more constitutional reforms and an addition of a bill of rights on the federal scale before continuing. Similar high-court inquiries such as the ICAC in NSW should be carried out nation wide too.[/QUOTE] Great ideas but no support and in a democracy it means they don't happen.

[QUOTE=Matthew0505;45823111]"muh budget deficit" Wastes $244m on terrible policy[/QUOTE] I cannot award enough zings to appropriate my love for this comment.

Thank you Australia, for making sure we remember that our Prime Minister is only a little bit of a twat. [editline]28th August 2014[/editline] Your sacrifice will be remembered.

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;45823459]Thank you Australia, for making sure we remember that our Prime Minister is only a little bit of a twat. [editline]28th August 2014[/editline] Your sacrifice will be remembered.[/QUOTE] Thing is, Tony Abbott's technically English, so he's our fault, d'oh :v: