Election Candidate Surveys
Candidates for Gympie / QLD Legislative Assembly Election 2012
Show
| All | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 | Q6 | Q7 | Q8 | Q9 | Q10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scoring Key
| Yes, Definitely10 | Probably7 | Unsure5 | Unlikely3 | Definitely Not2 | No Comment1 |
Candidate scores
| BP | Candidate | Party | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 | Q6 | Q7 | Q8 | Q9 | Q10 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FERRARO, Santo | One Nation | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 90 | |
| 2 | HAWKE, Kathy | Family First | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 90 | |
| 3 | PAULGER, Shane | Katter's Australian Party | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 90 | |
| 4 | GIBSON, David | Liberal National Party | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 47 | |
| 5 | PARKER, Ben | Australian Labor Party | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |
| 6 | MACDONALD, Shena | The Greens | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 29 |
Questionnaire
Christian prayers in parliament are part of our Australian heritage - reminding MPs, like all other people, that they are imperfect and need guidance. This tradition recognises the great majority of Queenslanders who identified themselves as adherents of Christianity in the 2006 Census. Opening parliamentary proceedings with prayer is a helpful reminder that members of parliament are accountable for their actions.
Would you support the continued opening of parliament each day with Christian prayers?
Abortion is a criminal offence in Queensland although a limited defence may be available for abortions performed for a serious threat to the mother's physical or mental health. A bill to legalise abortion would remove any restraint on doctors and leave the unborn child without any legal protection.
Would you oppose any bill to legalise abortion?
Child pornography is generally illegal in Queensland. However, a defence for child pornography that has "artistic merit" allows the production, publication and display of material that would otherwise be illegal. Children need protection from all child pornography.
Would you support the removal of the artistic merit defence for child pornography?
Queensland Parliament last year passed laws to allow de facto and same-sex relationships to be registered by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Registration treats these relationships as having equal status with marriage. Marriage provides public benefits by creating the best environment for raising children. Its unique status should be preserved.
Would you help restore the primacy of marriage by voting to repeal the Civil Partnerships Act?
Parliamentary committees were given greater responsibilities as a result of the Bligh government's Integrity and Accountability inquiry. However, despite some improvements to the oversight of legislation, there is still no check on the abuse of power in the unicameral parliament. The re-establishment of an upper house more representative of the Queensland electorate is urgently required.
Would you vote to restore an appropriately designed Legislative Council?
Current vilification laws prohibit inciting "severe ridicule" based on religion, sexuality or gender identity. These laws unjustly discriminate against free speech when a diversity of views is legitimate. They also restrict freedom of religion by inhibiting speaking about other religions or matters of sexuality or gender identity. A free society needs to accommodate robust debate on these matters.
Would you support a bill to remove vilification offences based on religion, sexuality and gender identity?
Queensland law currently permits adoption by de facto couples of two year's standing. Research evidence confirms that children flourish best when raised by a mother and a father who are married to each other. De facto relationships are significantly less stable than marriages. Before being entrusted with an adopted child, a man and a woman should be prepared to make the public, lifelong commitment of marriage.
Would you reverse the law that gave de facto couples the right to adopt children?
Queensland law allows any single person or couple - married, de facto or same-sex (with some restrictions) - to contract with a woman to carry and give birth to a child and hand it over. Donor sperm and donor eggs can be used. This treats the child as a commodity, often hurts the surrogate mother, and deprives a child of the right to his/her own natural mother and father.
Would you vote to repeal the current surrogacy laws?
In October 2007 the Queensland parliament voted to lift the prohibition on human embryo cloning. However since then, scientists have developed new ethical patient-matched stem cells. They have been used to heal many patients with heart disease and other conditions, but they do not require cloning or destroying human embryos. Cloning is no longer needed for cures.