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This was emailed to me today:

Dear Damien,

Thank you for your email and for taking the time to contact me.  My answers are below

1. What is the ALP's policy regarding the separation of Church and State?

The question of whether there is a separation between church and state in Australia is not a question of belief, but rather one of fact. Section 116 of the Constitution provides:

Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

2. Do religious beliefs influence any part of ALP policy?

During recent years Labor has been strengthening its relationships across the church community.  Kevin Rudd has met extensively with church leaders both in past years as well as since becoming Leader of the Australian Labor Party.

Mr Rudd brings to his leadership a strong Christian faith and a deep commitment to public service. He is passionately committed to Australia's future and sees the church community playing an important role in the future of the nation.  Labor understands the critically important role played by Australian churches in building and strengthening communities and providing a strong values foundation forAustralian society.

Church organisations and church congregations play an extraordinarily important role in the provision of education, health care, aged care facilities, housing and many other services often to the most needy people in society.  Labor understands also the important contribution that churches make to public debates not only on values issues but also on broader policy debates relating to

international conflict and war, poverty, industrial relations, education and many other matters. Labor welcomes the contributions of churches and Christian organisations in these debates.

Kevin Rudd and many senior Labor shadow ministers meet regularly with church leaders from a wide range of backgrounds. Mr Rudd would seek to continue this practice in office.  On a personal level, Mr Rudd understands the important role in society played by church leaders, in particular those in local leadership roles such as ministers, pastors and priests, and would seek to support them

in this role.

3. What is the ALP's policy regarding the teaching of evolution in schools?

Labor will establish a National Curriculum Board to ensure a rigorous, consistent and quality curriculum for all Australian students – from kindergarten to year 12 in the four key, core disciplines of English, history, maths and science.

Any addition to the science curriculum would be determined by a National
Curriculum Board which would consult with teachers, experts and parents and be based on the best available evidence.

Choices about the religious views that children learn are matters for parents.

4. What is the ALP's policy on state funding of religious institutions (educational or otherwise)?

Labor has a policy of not discriminating against any group or organisation based on their religious beliefs.  This includes when it comes to state funding.

In particular with regard to education no funding will be cut to any school. Labor believes there needs to be a greater investment in our schools. Under a Rudd Labor Government school funding will be based on the following key

principles:

1.      We believe a greater investment should be made at all levels of education, including schools and schooling;
2.      We will fund schools on the basis of need and fairness;
3.      We will not cut funding to any school; and
4.      We will not disturb the current Average Government School Recurrent Costs (AGSRC) indexation arrangements for schools' funding.

Thank you once again for contacting me with your query.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda Rishworth
Labor for Kingston