Media Release – The Chronicle 19-10-07

31/10/2007

picture-006.jpgDarren Churchill is a part time Boxfit instructor. He has a B.Ec.from the University of Newcastle and a Grad.Dip.Ed. from the University of Wollongong, and has taught in secondary schools in both NSW and the ACT.

Now, more than ever, a strong voice of the progressive centre is needed in the seat of Fraser. Someone who fights for what is right and provides a balanced approach in the parliament.

Our poor country is hurting from the divisive politics of exclusion and fear.

People are rightly suspicious of the government’s treatment of asylum seekers and other migrants and of the politics of exclusion practiced against people who don’t fit some imagined idea of normality in relation to race, religion or gender. The increased powers of surveillance and law enforcement in the name of freedom and without accountability or explanation are of great concern to me.

As the Democrats candidate, I offer fair representation and the opportunity to participate in an inclusive, environmentally sustainable and economically responsible Australia.

Tags:
Posted in Federal Election 2007 | Leave a Comment »

Media Release – Goulburn Post 18-10-07

31/10/2007

ACT Democrats announce candidate for the electorate of Fraser

Former Goulburn man, Darren Churchill, has been endorsed as the Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, ACT. The electorate neighbours Goulburn’s electorate of Hume to the south.

Originally from Goulburn, Mr Churchill, 43, now lives in Kaleen where he works part time as a Boxfit instructor.

As an Anglican, in the liberal-catholic tradition, Mr Churchill has strong views on human rights, equality, social justice and inclusiveness. Mr Churchill is a vegetarian and is greatly concerned about animal welfare and labelling of food.

Mr Churchill is a strong opponent of an ID Card and is concerned about the erosion of our freedoms in recent times.

Now, more than ever, a strong voice of the progressive centre is needed in Australian politics. Someone who will fight for what is right and provide a balanced approach in the parliament.

The Australian Democrats are a party that does offer balance and sensible approach, and isn’t answerable to the interest groups of big business, big unions or other powerful lobbyists with a particular agenda. The evenhanded, fair approach of the Democrats is a great attraction to me.

Our poor country is hurting from the divisive politics of exclusion and fear.

People are rightly suspicious of the government’s treatment of asylum seekers and other migrants. They are rightly suspicious of the politics of exclusion practiced against people who don’t fit some imagined idea of normality in relation to race, religion or gender. And they are rightly suspicious of increased powers of surveillance and law enforcement in the name of freedom and without accountability or explanation.

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

0412 196 473

Tags:
Posted in Federal Election 2007 | Leave a Comment »

Announcement (Canberra) 18-10-07

31/10/2007

Media Release 18 October 2007

ACT Democrats announce candidate for Fraser

Darren Churchill, 43, lives in Kaleen where he works part time as a Boxfit instructor. Mr Churchill has a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Newcastle and a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Wollongong. He has taught in secondary schools in both NSW and the ACT.

Mr Churchill has also worked in the music industry doing sound and lighting, and in the early 1990s was a band manager.

As an Anglican, in the liberal-catholic tradition, Mr Churchill has strong views on human rights, equality, social justice and inclusiveness. Mr Churchill is a vegetarian and is greatly concerned about animal welfare and labelling of food..

Mr Churchill is a strong opponent of an ID Card and is concerned about the erosion of our freedoms in recent times.

Now, more than ever, a strong voice of the progressive centre is needed in Australian politics. Someone who will fight for what is right and provide a balanced approach in the parliament.

The Australian Democrats are a party that does offer balance and sensible approach, and isn’t answerable to the interest groups of big business, big unions or other powerful lobbyists with a particular agenda. The evenhanded, fair approach of the Democrats is a great attraction to me.

Our poor country is hurting from the divisive politics of exclusion and fear.

The people of the Fraser electorate (and Canberrans in general) are rightly suspicious of the government’s treatment of asylum seekers and other migrants. They are rightly suspicious of the politics of exclusion practiced against people who don’t fit some imagined idea of normality in relation to race, religion or gender. And they are rightly suspicious of increased powers of surveillance and law enforcement in the name of freedom and without accountability or explanation.

As the Democrats candidate, I offer fair representation and the opportunity to participate in an inclusive, environmentally sustainable and economically responsible Australia.

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au 0412 196 473

Tags:
Posted in Federal Election 2007 | Leave a Comment »

We must oppose executions in all circumstances

24/10/2007

Isn’t it time somebody took a strong stand on human rights? That the perpetrators of the Bali bombings need to be brought to justice is and should be unquestioned. But the death penalty is not about justice. It is about revenge. It is about committing another wrong in the totally flawed expectation that somehow it will make right a previous wrong committed against us. It can only lead to an escalating cycle of violence and oneupmanship.

The taking of a life is a horrible and evil act, that we as a tolerant society rightly condemn. But if we are to continue to condemn the taking of a life, we must be consistent in opposing it. And that means opposing the death penalty.

It is the mark of a fair and compassionate society that we lead by example on human rights issues. The right to life is a fundamental human right. It exists regardless of race, nationality, religion, gender, creed or any other distinction.

Those who take life should be condemned in the strongest terms and brought to justice. But that does not involve retaliation by committing what is essentially the same crime. Two wrongs never have, and never will, make a right!

The strong stance taken by the Australian Democrats in opposing the death penalty, shows that that there is one political party in Australia prepared to take a stand on human rights. Labor appears to want to take a stand – but is frightened of the Howard government playing wedge politics. We need some consistency.

Australia needs to take a strong, fearless stand against human rights abuses and violations in our region. We must not allow our opposition to the death penalty to be seen as in any way ambiguous.

This is the full text of my letter published in the Canberra Times, October 11, 2007)

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Draconian law highlights need for third-party role

24/10/2007

The Liberal Government and Labor Opposition have voted for draconian laws in the House of Representatives.

I can only assume the two of them will do the same in the Senate.

The laws will give the police and ASIO the power to trace our mobile and internet activity without a warrant. Court approval will not be needed, nor will there be supervision of the process.

Labor and the Liberal/National Coalition have teamed up on a number of occasions to restrict the privacy of citizens and this is the latest example.

It is yet another example of a Government that is no longer accountable to the people because of a majority in both houses of Parliament and an ineffective Opposition that says “me too” to the Government’s agenda, providing no real alternative to a tired old government.

As always, it is up to the Australian Democrats to speak out. But what has a minority party, which for so many years has been the conscience of the Parliament, been able to do without having the balance of power?

This mobile and internet tapping issue is a matter that should be of concern to all Australians.

Our Parliament, courts and security agencies need to be accountable. Our freedoms are precious and need to be protected, not given away through legislation that seeks to control the very people it is supposed to protect.

With an election looming and the question of accountability at the heart of our democratic system, we need desperately to restore balance to the Senate.

We need a third party that will make government by and opposition from the major parties accountable. And to enable a brake on extreme legislation.

We probably have nothing to lose except freedom from overly powerful government and stand to gain more credibility than the opposition.

(This is a reproduction of my letter published in the Canberra Times, 21 September, 2007).

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Why I oppose an ID card

24/10/2007

The Access card is nothing short of a national identity card. The government has argued that it is not compulsory. However, citizens will not be able to obtain government health and welfare services without it. In fact, the Access Card website even states that from 2010, the Access Card will replace the Medicare Card. Effectively, it is every bit as compulsory as was the Thatcher government’s poll tax in the UK.

The Hawke government’s Australia Card in 1986/87 was considered such a threat to privacy that it was blocked three times in the Senate providing a possible trigger for a double dissolution. It was subsequently abandoned. The problems the Hawke government aimed to address with it’s Australia Card were subsequently address with the Tax File number, payment of welfare into bank accounts, the 100 point identification check. Photo ID’s acn be obtained, optionally, by anyone but they are not linked for access to anything (except perhaps in the case of driving or international travel).

The Howard government’s Access Card is far more of a threat than the Australia Card ever was. Modern surveillance technology, databases and photgraphic technology (biometrics) are far more sophisticated thatn they were in the 1980s – and the risks associated with them are consequently also far more sophistacted. Hackers, privacy concerns, monitoring of citizenry, the card becoming a domestic passport are all very real concerns and cannot be addressed by legislation. Even the best intended privacy legislation will not protect people from a more “power-and-control” orientated government than the current Australian government from increasing the scope and coverage of the card (function creep).

We mustn’t allow Australia to join such dubious company as Nazi Germany, occupied pre-unification Berlin, and white South Africa. I will fight to keep us free from an identity card.

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Introducing the candidate

24/10/2007

picture-006.jpgG’day,

I’m Darren Churchill, the Australian Democrats candidate for the seat of Fraser in the ACT. I’m a part time Boxfit instructor and have taught in secondary schools in both NSW and the ACT.
Now, more than ever, strong voice of the progressive centre is needed in the seat of Fraser. Someone who fights for what is right and provides a balanced approach in the parliament. People are rightly suspicious of the government’s treatment of asylum seekers and other migrants and of the politics of exclusion practiced against people who don’t fit some imagined idea of normality in relation to race, religion or gender. The increased powers of surveillance and law enforcement in the name of freedom and without accountability or explanation are of great concern to me.

As the Democrats candidate, I offer fair representation and the opportunity to participate in an inclusive, environmentally sustainable and economically responsible Australia.

This post is an edited version of a shorter profile of me published in The Chronicle (Canberra) on October 23, 2007.

Posted in Federal Election 2007 | Leave a Comment »

Newer Entries »