Family First NSW Core Values Statement
The Right to Life
We believe in the right to life, and that all human life is sacred – from the moment of conception until the last breath is taken. And it is a primary task of government to defend human life from those forces in society that would solve complex social problems with death: from making abortion and euthanasia legal and easily obtainable to inflicting punishment for wrongs done by taking life through the State’s use of capital punishment.
We believe that women need to be honoured, cherished and supported in their roles of motherhood – not pressured to simply flush away a life that is inconvenient to an employer, boyfriend, family or her own plans for her life. Society needs to make choosing to nurture a life as easy as it currently makes abortion.
We believe that all children should be wanted and received as gifts from God into a stable family unit made up of one man and one woman who have forsworn all others to make a life with each other, and to nurture the next generation.
We believe that suffering from disease should be relieved by appropriate palliative care not the medical inducement of death, and that each ill person should know that they are loved and that their life matters to their family and to society. They may be old, and they may be sick, but they are still wanted.
The Dignity of Work, and the Common Good
We believe in the inherent dignity of work, individual initiative and self-reliance. To this end we work with Governments to ensure optimum conditions in the national economy to create the highest possible employment rates, with the best conditions for both employers and employees, with government intervention when required with employment training and deployment programs.
The Role of Government
We believe in using the instruments of government, including a fair tax, to benefit the citizens of Australia to improve the health, education, security and opportunities available to all – not to serve the private, commercial interests that would benefit from activities that would pollute, destroy, or degrade our
land, air or water. This responsibility includes calling the government to a higher standard by identifying and pointing out the flaws in government policy so that sensible improvements can be made. We believe leaders should offer a vision that can light the way using his or her grounding in the words and teachings of Jesus Christ and our Judeo-Christian heritage. Other insights from modern and ancient teachers may encourage us.
Liberty and Freedom
We believe in the foundational principle of “Liberty”, which encompasses the following fundamental freedoms: the right of the individual to act according to his or her own conscience, as well as the freedom of association, freedom of belief, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, the right to due process, the right to a trial, the right to own property, the right to privacy, and the right to life. These are the basic civil liberties in a democratic nation. The liberty of every nation is dependent upon orderly immigration, border protection, adequate defence forces against external aggression, and an internal police force to uphold the law, to protect citizens and to detain those who threaten peace and good civil order. We believe it is vital to be committed to the Common Good, and that it is every citizen’s responsibility to contribute to the overall wellbeing of the community.
Social and Environmental Justice
We believe in Social Justice – which means working towards a more fair, equal and just society based on the concepts of human rights and equality as taught by Jesus. It means social inclusion for all peoples of all races, languages, religions, classes, abilities and cultural backgrounds. It means that the goods of society are shared equitably. We believe in the urgent necessity of reducing the impact of humankind on the natural world and striving to live in balance and harmony with the rest of Creation as a God-given duty.
With these core values we can work with similar minded people whatever their race, religion, and social standing. These are essential for a values-based political party. With these essentials we have unity. In matters nonessential we have liberty of opinion, and in all things we act and think with charity.
(As per St Augustine and Peter Meiderlin.)
REV THE HON DR GORDON MOYES AC MLC
