Tasmania – Charter of Human Rights to Protect Gays?
Tasmanian gay activists have welcomed a report from that State’s Law Reform Commission, calling for a State Charter of Human Rights. Such a charter would include recognising the rights of LGBT people and would have the power to force the State Parliament to amend any laws which were found to be discriminatory. Charters of Rights currently exist in ACT and Victoria, but do not have the same scope or powers as that which is proposed for Tasmania.
HIV on the rise in Australia
After being in decline since the 1980’s, the number of new HIV infections in Australia has again risen by about one third over the past few years. The findings are published in a recent report released by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research which identified that new diagnoses were the highest amongst men who have sex with men. New South Wales was the only state to show a decline in HIV incidences.
Australian Anglicans Continue Civil War
There is no end in sight to the ongoing factional warfare within the Australian Anglican church, with ultra-conservative Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen warning that the unity in the church – worldwide and particularly in Australia is at risk of collapsing. The sticking points for the conservative factions that are threatening to break away relate to the ordination of women and openly gay Bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions. Whilst it was hoped that a compromise with more progressive factions on the gay issues may help ease tensions, it appears that the rift with the conservative Sydney and African churches may still be widening regardless.
