GordonMoyes.com

Many Australians felt a new level of optimism as the Prime Minister committed his government to closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. But ‘closing the gap’ is not just a task for governments, it needs all of us.

“In our day the Holy Spirit is doing a most remarkable work. More people from non-Christian backgrounds are becoming Christians than ever before in history. Across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, South and South-East Asia, as well as in countries such as China, the Gospel message is not only being spread but is producing a wonderful harvest of new believers.”

The death of an Australian commando in fighting against Taliban forces in Afghanistan, and on the same day a brazen assassination attempt against the country’s President, Hamid Karzai, during a military parade in the capital, Kabul, were shocking reminders of the peril inherent in Australia’s commitment there.

Every year Anzac Day is commemorated by countless thousands of people at dawn services and marches across Australia. The words “Lest we forget” are used to symbolise our tribute to those who died in war, with a particular focus on Gallipoli in 1915, but also covering all major conflicts since then.

Australian activists are breathing life into an alternative approach to the resolution of the Middle East conflict. In a groundbreaking grassroots initiative, an Australian rules football team comprising Israelis and Palestinians has been formed by the Peres Centre for Peace to compete in the 3rd International Cup to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australia’s original sporting code, Aussie Rules.

People are getting so anxious about climate change that they are seeing their doctors for help. In a speech tonight to mark World Health Day, Grant Blashki says climate change is already having direct and indirect effects on Australia’s health, and the problems will get worse. His call for the medical profession to treat climate change as a health issue is being echoed around the world as the World Health Organization chose ‘protecting health from climate change’ as its theme.

The swimmer Nick D’Arcy is accused of smashing the face of Simon Cowley, a former Commonwealth Games Champion, with a single punch. If proved, a single thoughtless act may end his hopes of going to Beijing and render null and void a lifetime of training. Would that outcome be too harsh?

Every Sydney citizen is now a cyber sheriff. NSW Police are testing a new citizen-based crime-fighting technique in which all of us will be enlisted as ‘spies’ against criminals. Codenamed Project VIEW (Video Image Evidence on the Web) involves encouraging ordinary citizens to send in images of suspected criminal activity captured on mobile phones, digital cameras, or video recorders via a specifically dedicated police website.

Higher, further, harsher – China is matching its investment in the physical infrastructure of the Olympics with a vast and extensive array of police power, aimed at preventing any dissent element unsettling the “harmonious” atmosphere of the games this August, or embarrassing the Communist Party leadership.

So, in building broader representation and diversity, we must attract more members from multicultural Australia, more women and more young Australians who see membership of a centre-right party as a way to express their ideals in a stimulating environment of open minds and open debate.