The Institute of Public Affairs ( I.P.A.) has recently published a list of Australia's thirteen biggest mistakes.

The eleventh on the list of biggest mistakes was federal money for science blocks at private church schools (non-government) in 1963/64 D.O.G.S claim that the granting of State Aid to private church schools is the worst, or second worst mistake. On reflection, probably the 6-1, 1981 High Court decision in the DOGS Section 116 case was the biggest mistake.

DOGS consider the arguments supporting the granting of State Aid as the eleventh worst decision is a reflection of the I.P.A's failure to understand the importance of public education alongside separation of Church and State as the cornerstone of the Australian secular, liberal, democratic and heterogeneous society.

I.P.A. is mistaken. It is not who can pay dollars for education, but about dollars for division.

Wake up! D.O.G.S predicted in the 1960s that if State Aid continued, it would start as a trickling stream but end up as a raging torrent. D.O.G.S. also predicted that the giving of State Aid would lead to the decline of the public education system and more division and tribalism. All these predictions have proved correct.

Unfortunately the I.P.A. does not understand that church schools are a cancer in the body politic, poisoning the arms of government ( executive, legislature, and judiciary) and damaging the sinews of the democratic process. ( Press, Pastor, Politician and Professor).

Unfortunately, the High Court had a chance in 1981 in the D.O.G.S. State Aid case, to bring State Aid to religion to a halt. By failing to support the D.O.G.S. historical position on separation of church and state based upon the intention of the Founding Fathers and embodied in the Australian Constitution, the High Court turned a shield into a sword.

In 2006, conservatives like Peter Costello, Alexander Downer, John Howard and Andrew Robb are recognising the importance of church/State separation and a secular State for a free, peaceful, liberal and democratic society.

Secular Public Education is one of the underpinnings of the secular state. The other was the separation of church and state.

I.P.A. revise your biggest mistake list -

1.     D.O.G.S'  Section 116 of the Australian Constitution High Court decision 1981.

2.     Granting of State Aid to private schools.     

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