(by the R ev Dr The Hon. Gordon Moyes,  A.C., M.L.C. )

In this Federal election it is absolutely vital for Christians for vote for Christian candidates and for the Christian party.  Our Christian heritage is under attack from pagan and secularist forces, militant Islamic groups, a neo communism under a Green guise and a strident homosexual lobby that has successfully gained the support of the Labor Party, Australian Democrats and the Greens, and many from the left of the Liberal Party.  

Proposals already accepted by the major parties involve the approval of homosexual and lesbian marriage and child adoption, the removals of the exemption for schools and churches from the anti-vilification Acts limiting Christians from speaking out against such issues as homosexual behaviour even in sermons in churches,  the inclusion of churches and schools under the anti-discrimination acts meaning that Christian churches may no longer limit the hiring of their staff to Christian people who uphold their values, and many other issues that concern parents and Christian alike.

Why must Christians vote for the Christian Democratic Party?

1.   The C.D.P. is the only Christian Party.  The CDP was founded squarely on Bible teaching and commands, Christian ethics and committed to the upholding of the Christian faith.  It is the ONLY party so committed.  There are individual Christians in other parties but they are not free to vote according to Christian desires. They must vote according to their party room decisions. There is strong discipline to keep Christians in line and independent minded Christians are not promoted within the party.  With some parties the decisions about how the Parliamentary wing should vote is made by a non-elected State Council.

We meet with the other Christians in the Parliamentary Prayer Group, to pray for God's blessings upon our decisions, but every week I have Christian members in the major parties, as we cross the floor to vote saying as we pass:  "I would much rather be voting with you on this issue.  But we can't. You understand."

There are only one or two issues where the Governments allow a conscience vote.  They are very rare indeed these days.  The Christian Democrats must always vote according to their Christian conscience.  

2.  The  other parties have serious flaws in their platforms. Both the ALP and the Liberal Party were founded by numbers of Christians. But sadly, as the decades have past, that Christian influence has waned. Could anyone seriously advocate that either will uphold the Christian values of this country and support the  benefits Christians enjoy?

As for the Greens, they are the most pagan party ever to be formed in Australia.  With this they agree. While they started with the environmental concerns Christian share, they have been taken over by former members of the extreme left of the ALP and former members of the now defunct Australian Communist Party.  Their social policies all represent this view.  Daily I have to listen to two members of the Greens in the NSW Parliament who proudly boast of their membership in the Australian Communist Party advocating social change that would shock the majority of Australians. They decry the Christian faith, they advocate stopping all funding to non-government schools, they would force schools and churches to employ homosexuals, they would legalize euthanasia, abortions, same sex marriages, ecstasy, speed and heroin, reduce the water held in dams, ban new jails, attack the RSL, allow pornography, unrestricted brothels and so on.  In most of these matters the Australian Democrats join with the Greens.  Senators from both parties include homosexuals living in sexual relationships.

I believe that any Christian either standing as a candidate or voting for them, has obviously not seriously considered their social statements. The new group, Family First, which won a seat in the Legislative Council in Adelaide with 4.1 percent primary vote,  has been visiting churches urging support.  But they state clearly they are not  a Christian party, and look to working with people of the Islamic religion and those of no faith.  This is a party  unequally yoked together of disparate values and history shows these single issue groups blaze and quickly burn out.  Because the party is not distinctively Christian, they do not deserve your vote.

3.  The Christian Democratic Party has a proven track record of over 20 years.  Rev Fred Nile has been in the NSW Parliament for 23 years.  He is now standing as one of six candidates that will be elected as NSW Senators.  The McNair Integrity poll showed that over all electorates, 30 percent of people polled knew Fred Nile,  realised he was a man of strong Christian principles, and would serious consider voting for him.  He has a realistic chance of being elected. With the retirement after 30 years of Senator Brian Harradine, the Christian faith has lost its only voice in the Senate that rigorously stands up for family, marriage, pro-life and other Christian concerns.  Fred Nile would take his place and ensure the Christian voice would be heard.   In each state the Christian Democratic Party has a lead candidate for the Senate who is a worthy candidate for the Senate, and scores of committed Christians standing for the House of Representatives.  Trust these Christian brothers and sisters with your No 1 vote.

You can vote 1 above the black thick line, but you need only to record the number 1. If you record 2, 3 etc “across the ballot paper” such numbers for preferences are ignored. For “above the line” voting the parties register a “ticket” which allocates their own preferences after the number 1. You do not allocate them. So do not think that by voting for your traditional party of support above the black line and then giving CDP your number 2 that you are voting a preference vote for CDP. In fact for CDP it is not a  vote for CDP at all unless the number one party has registered a ticket with CDP as number 2. 

CDP needs your number 1 votes!  Vote Number 1 above the line only for your senate CDP candidates!