CHAIRMAN'S 2001 REPORT.
Dr. Joe Santamaria
During the past 12 months,
the Family Council of Victoria has been engaged in a wide range
of activities that have been demanding on the services of its members,
all of whom act in a voluntary capacity. The Executive has met monthly
and in more recent times, the meetings have been held in the eastern
suburbs. We are grateful for this venue and I wish to express our
gratitude to the Thomas More Centre for their support over the years
since our inception in 1994. The challenge to find a 'permanent'
home will by faced by the incoming executive.
Of great significance is the development of our website and special
thanks are due to Michael Treacy for his efforts and perseverance
in bringing this initiative into fruition.
The past year has been somewhat tumultuous. Once again we were faced
by yet another Penington Drug Policy Committee, again established
by the Victorian Government. The FCV was pivotal in the community
response to the proposed measures of this government body. The FCV
provided the impetus for the formation of the Community Coalition
for a Drug Free Society, which also received support from constituent
members of the Council, and from the Drug Advisory Council of Australia.
The battle however is far from won and we acknowledge the assistance
that we have received from Newsweekly and Saltshakers in providing
media outlets for the views of the Council. But a new phase of vigilance
and activity will be demanded, given the views expressed by the
new mayor of the Melbourne City Council and the renewed activity
of the State Government.
Several legislative measures passed through the Victorian Parliament
during the past 6 months, which are a cause of great concern to
the FCV. These can be popularly referred to as the Relationships
Act and the Vilification Act, both of which advanced the agenda
of the radical homosexual lobby. What has occurred is an amalgamation
of forces which are hostile to the existence of the natural family
and the status which it rightly holds as the fundamental social
unit which should be fostered and nurtured. By the subtle use of
language, the avowed philosophy of the 'intellectual elite' and
some political parties, and the virtual control and censorship exercised
by a hostile media, legislation has been passed through the Parliament
against the preferred opinion of the electorate. The language of
rights and of discrimination is being used in the parliament and
in the courts to achieve an ideological purpose which is directed
against the natural family and its internal dynamic relationships.
Several of our members have been indefatigable in seeking to influence
the outcome of he parliamentary debates, and I pay particular tribute
to the courageous efforts of one special member in this regard.
The most recent challenge is the document of Youth Affairs by the
Council of Victoria Inc. It is the natural outcome of the contentious
provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child but it also
a deeper form of erosion of the rights and responsibilities of parents
in the upbringing and care of their children. The impact on the
future of our society would be nothing short of catastrophic.
It therefore behoves us to consolidate our efforts and level of
cooperation so that the natural family is upheld and proclaimed
as the social unit that must be preserved and which must attract
a greater level if support and protection from our elected leaders
and judicial appointments.
The FCV needs to expand
its membership and to invite distinguished community leaders to
become patrons of the Council. At the same time, the Council will
need to redouble its efforts in the fields of public education and
advocacy of the natural family.
I thank all members of the Council for their support over the last
12 months and I urge you all to maintain your enthusiasm and endeavour
for the years ahead.
Joe Santamaria
Chairman.
August 6, 2001
