MR COSTELLO SAYS THAT

" A GOVERNMENT SHOULD NEVER GET INTO RELIGIOUS ENDEAVORS"!

THE hON. pETER cOSTELLO mp, tREASURER ADDRESSED THE nATIONAL dAY OF tHANKSGIVING cOMMEMORATION AT sCOTS cHURCH mELBOURNE ON sATURDAY 29 mAY 2004 AS  FOLLOWS:

" Our society was founded by British colonists. And the single most decisive feature that determined the way it developed was the Judeo-Christian-Western tradition.

As a society, we are who we are, because of that heritage. ...

We have the Rule of Law, respect for life, private property rights, respect of others - values that spring from the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Tolerance under the law is a great part of this tradition.

Tolerance does not mean that all views are the same. It does not mean that differing views are equally right. What it means is that where there are differences, no matter how strongly held, different people will respect the right of others to hold them.

We are an open and tolerant society. ....

Unfortunately today we see that legacy fraying all around us. It is almost as if the capital deposit has been drawn down for such regular maintenance that the capital is running out. The maintenance demands are unending. But we are not building up the  capital required to service it....

A Government should never get into religious endeavors."!

All very laudable sentiments Mr Costello.

DOGS look forward to the Coalition looking to the one institution which has promoted "tolerance,, the rule of law, respect for life, respect of others and an open and tolerant society."

This is the public school system, a system open to all children and a system in which children learn to live together , thus, as citizen promoting a harmonious and heterogeneous society.

Australia owes it so much. It is the cornerstone of our democracy - and it is badly in need of maintenance. A diversion of the public funding of private, intolerant, sectarian school systems would improve matters no end.

And Mr Costello is just so right about the government getting into religious matters. When the established religions in Australia say "Jump and give us billions more" Mr Howard and Mr Costello cry" How high and how much?"

The result has been a serious erosion of our democratic processes. and an even more serious running down of our precious inheritance- the public school system.

So DOGS looks forward to a bit of action as well as fine words from the Treasurer.

An increase in funding for our public education system and the withdrawal of those billions of dollars of State Aid to sectarian intolerant, selective, and expensive church schools.