12 February 2015: “Free and equal! Towards a more humane society”, Reverend Dr Thorwald Lorenzen
- Copy of address
- Audio recordings:
- Introduction: Bishop George Browning
- Dr Lorenzen’s address:
- Comment on the Speech: Bishop George Browning
- Question 1: If you had the opportunity, what one thing would you say to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition?
- Question 2: International Charter for Compassion.
- Question 3: The “our” in “Our Father” refers to all human beings whatever their religion.
- Question 4: How should one decide which of the many worthy issues one should give attention to?
- Question 5: Should one respect people of contrary views? Are our superior?
- Question 6: Amplification of tension between the values of freedom and equality and impact of fear and hate.
- Question 7: Identifying the victim and relationship of competition to the values of freedom and equality.
- Question 8: Church and support for women.
- Question 9: How can we effect change in Society? Revising the paradigm of government.
- Question 10: What question would you put to political leaders regarding Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders?
- Questions of Bishop Browning on your background: What impact does you memory of World War II in Hamburg have on you?
- Question 11: What is you attitude to authority? What do you believe now more fervently than you used to? Who are your heroes?
- Closing Comments: Bishop George Browning
21 April 2015: “The war on drugs: noble cause or tragic debacle?”, Dr Ken Crispin QC
- Audio recordings:
- Introduction: Dr Thorwald Lorenzen
- Dr Crispin’s address
- Question 1: How can the transformation in community attitudes towards homosexuality inform a possible change of community attitudes on drugs?
- Question 2: Avoiding commercialization of marijuana supply in Washington State.
- Question 3: Prohibition justifiable as an aspiration. Australia compared to Sweden
- Question 4: Extent that the criminal law still applies in Portugal. Unreality of expectation that imprisonment leads to rehabilitation?
- Question 5: High cost of imprisonment as a response to drug use.
- Question 6: Different models of regulation of drugs in context of legalization: methamphetamine/ice.
- Question 7: Prohibition deters children from drug use
- Closing Remarks & Thanks to Speaker: Bishop George Browning
21 May 2015: “Budget Equity?”, Paul Bongiorno
- Audio recordings:
- Introduction: Bishop George Browning
- Dr Bongiorno’s address
- Question 1: Impact of budget and Transpacific Partnership Agreement (TPP)on Pharmaceuticals. Extent that Investor State Dispute Settlement under the TPP may undermine sovereignty. Defence spending.
- Question 2: Extent Australia is mimicking America.
- Question 3: Why do so many people vote against their own best interest?
- Question 4: How did the government get its first budget so badly wrong?
- Question 5: Disconnect between Christian values of political leadership and delivery of programs to promote Christian social justice values. How can we strengthen the discourse to encourage delivery on social justice outcomes?
- Question 6: Privatisation of government functions
- Question 7: Why is so much attention paid to the aged and so little to the young?
- Question 8: Should we argue for Christian compassion or the economic benefits of compassion?
- Question 9: Australian Taxation level compared to other prosperous countries and how to promote electoral support for higher taxation.
- Closing Remarks: Bishop George Browning
- Thanks to Speaker: Bishop Stephen Pickard
27 August 2015: “Fortress Australia – myth or reality?”, Rev Tim Costello (Annual dinner forum)
- Audio recordings:
- Introduction: Thorwald Lorenzen
- Rev Costello’s address
- Question 1: Politicians should be reminded that the ends can never justify the means.
- Question 2: Is a pathology of insecurity and deep and complex links with the U.S. and Britain a factor in Australia’s attitude to the outside world?
- Question 3: How can we alleviate the factors that cause people to leave their country? What support should we give to the UNHCR?
- Vote of thanks: Bishop George Browning
20 October 2015: Climate Change, Steve Hatfield Dodds
No materials available from this forum
11 November 2015: For Those Who’ve Come Across the Seas: Justice for refugees and asylum seekers. Joint forum with the Catholic Social Justice Commission. Speakers: Jon Stanhope, Sr Jane Keogh and Felix Macharidza
- Audio recordings:
- Introduction: Genevieve Jacobs
- Jon Stanhope’s address
- Sister Jane Keogh’s address
- Felix Machiridza’s address
- Question 1: Jon Stanhope on why governments of both persuasions insist on secrecy
- Question 2: Sr. Keogh on why the plight of asylum seekers doesn’t resonate more strongly in the community
- Question 3: Machiridza on the extent that meeting people face to face can break down barriers
- Question 4: Bishop Browning on how Australia contributes to the flow of refugees
- Question 5: Cassidy on the extent is it legitimate for the church to have a voice in refugee matters
- Question 6: Keogh on the connection between unresolved reconciliation issues with indigenous Australians and our attitude to refugees
- Question 7: The relevance of the National Child Protection Framework to refugee children in detention
- Question 8: How is it possible to change the refugee policies of the Labor and Liberal Parties?
- Question 9: Browning: See whether elimination of punitive element and just turning back the boats will still maintain deterrance
- Question 10: Cassidy & Browning: Are measures of oppression beyond what is required to deter boats?
- Question 11: Keogh: The Government has admitted that mandatory detetention does not deter refugees
- Question 12: Machiridza: Whether Australia has a reputation in Africa as a cruel country; Red Cross instructed refer to refugees as detainees
- Question 13: Stanhope & Browning: Changing policy by embarrassing politicians and the electorate
- Final Remarks: Genevieve Jacobs
