Update (26/08): Thanks to all of you who are spreading the word, with any luck they’ll get their required members through this post alone! Two points to clarify:

1. This post was in no way authorised or endorsed by the party – it’s just my way of trying to help out.
2. If you’re not eligible to vote in Australia, don’t try and join up, but help spread the word if you know other Aussie Atheists.

Hey all you Aussies out there (if you’re not an Aussie, keep reading, you might still be able to help by spreading the word),

I recently received an email from Frank Gomez of the Secular Party of Australia (previously the Freedom from Religion Party), which I wanted to get your help with. Members of the Secular Party are hoping to run in this year’s election, but as the party doesn’t have enough members yet, they’ll need to run as independents, giving them a much lower chance of success.

All you need to do, if you want to help, is to fill out and mail (yes, snail mail) in the form below to join the party – membership is free. For 20 seconds of your time, and the cost of a 50c stamp, you could help Atheists get a stronger voice in Australian parliament.

• Secular Party of Australia Membership Application

Perhaps if you’re not an Aussie yourself, but might have Australian readers on your own blog, or know of some Aussie Atheists? Please help get the word out there, either direct them to this blog, or post something on your own blog if you can!

If anyone’s interested, I’m posting the full text of the email below.

Hi members and supporters,

The party’s executive has decided to contest this year’s Federal election. However, as we do not have the numbers yet to register as a party, candidates will have to run as independents. This means that we cannot use the words “Secular” or “Freedom From Religion” on ballot papers.

I am writing to all of you because we need your membership of the party to be official so that it can count for registration.

I have attached a membership form, and for those of you for whom I have a postal address you will receive (or may have already have received) these in the mail also.

I urge you all to complete and send back the attached form to the below address.

I also wish to ask you whether you know someone else who would be interested in joining.

We currently have around 300 members and need only 200 more in order to register as a party for this year’s election. Registering the party would mean being able to use the party’s name and abbreviations in how to vote cards and ballot papers, and would increase out vote many fold.

If every member of the party sent back two forms – their own and for someone else – then we would reach the 500 we need in a matter of weeks.

Otherwise we need to wait another 3 years to contest as a registered party. That’s another 3 years of more religion in politics – whoever wins the election. MAKE A DIFFERENCE !!

FRANK GOMEZ
SECULAR PARTY www.secular.org.au
NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT
19 Fishers Reserve
Petersham NSW 2049

While I don’t think Australia will ever be as dominated by fundamentalist religious dogma as is the case in the USA, it’s scary to see religion and politics closely intertwined in Australia, as it’s certainly possibly that we could head down a similar path. Our two major party leaders, Kevin Rudd, and John Howard are both strong Christians (or, so they claim), as are many of the other Members of Parliament.

Democrats¹ leader Lyn Allison says there are too many federal MPs with strong religious views.

Senator Allison says the separation of church and state is becoming blurred.

“The Prime Minister this morning said that there were a great number of Members of Parliament in Coalition ranks with very strong ties to the Christian church,” she said. “I know this is a Christian country but people with very strong religious views are heavily over-represented, if I can put it that way, in the Parliament,” she said.²

I’ve always been a swinging voter, and I don’t support either major Australian party – my votes in the past have gone to the Greens, the Democrats, or the odd independent (with the unfortunate necessity of nominating both of the major parties somewhere with my preferences). It worries me, however, when I can see the line between politics and religion in Australia getting blurred.

Some claim that comments like those of Lyn Allison are misguided, but I think it’s a legitimate concern. There’s certainly no problem with having a reasonable percentage of Christians represented in parliament (if 64% of the population are Christian, then their views might be well represented if we have 64% Christian MPs). My problem is that politics seems to be becoming more about religion than it should be, and who knows where that will lead? Honestly, I don’t care what religious views our leaders have, as long as they’re able to put their views aside when it counts. I worry that the efforts of our potential Prime Ministers to emphasise their Christianity will push the focus where it doesn’t belong.

(Oh, and sorry this post was late – I try to write one major post each Sunday, but I’ve had a rather busy weekend!)

1. A minor party in Australia
2. Donald, P., Iggulden, T. (August 2007) Howard, Rudd Woo Christians Online, ABC News