The Australian Christian Lobby‘s second leader’s debate has been broadcast live from Canberra to hundreds of churches around the country, with both leaders mostly agreeing to agree on most of the major issues of interest to Christians.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition leader Tony Abbott gave prepared speeches and then answered questions seperately.

Questions came from leaders and representatives of various denominations.

On issues such as support for school chaplaincy, gay marriage and prayer in Parliament, both Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott took similar lines.

Mr Rudd was first to speak, saying “I am proud of the role played by the Christian churches in shaping this country”.

He then read a list of basic social institutions such as schools hospitals and orphanages which he said “began on the back of Christian churches.” Nevertheless he said there was great wisdom that the founding fathers decided their would not be an established religion.

Standing on his record, Mr Rudd said “one of our priorities has been to engage with churches in the education system of australia.”

Referring to the building programme which is part of the national economic stimulus strategy, Mr Rudd said “we have been blind to whether it is a government or non government school.”

Abbott as ‘progressive’

In the Opposition leader’s prepared address, he spoke of the Howard years and policies towards independent schools, the baby bonus, his personal efforts for the pregnancy support hotline.

He drew nods of approval from some audience members when he recalled that he had argued strongly against anti-discrimination principles being applied to church-based bodies.

He said despite his respect for former leader John Howard, he would be more ‘progressive’.

“Values do not change and yet how they express themselves in policy should and can change over time.” Mr Abbott said.

Both sides rushed to claim ‘balance’ when it comes to the refugee issue (see below).

One key differences was when Mr Rudd referred to the Opposition’s blocking of the emissions trading scheme. On climate change the Prime Minister said he was in stark contrast to his opponent because he acknowledged ‘the science is clear’.

Mr Abbott raised the sensitive issue of paid parental leave, which the ACL has opposed.

“I want larger families with more children. Australia’s children are the greatest vote of confidence we can make in our future. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me on this…..but I do stress there will be further policy on this between now and the election.”

On indigenous affairs, Mr Abbott referred to the differences between him and his predecessor and wanted practical action to back up the apology to aboriginal people.

He also paid tribute to the work of missionaries among aboriginal people saying"many left their bones in those communities.”

Mr Rudd defended the government’s approach and said there had been progress from aboriginal policy, including the Northern Territory intervention. “We can see measurable change,” Mr Rudd said.

The event was webcast from old Parliament House in Canberra.

As Archbishop Jensen is overseas, Sydney diocese was represented by the Bishop of South Sydney Robert Forsyth (pictured being interviewed on the webcast).

An edited sample of questions and answers:

On refugees:

Abbott: “There are no easy answers or simple solutions here. Of course, we have an obligation to genuine refugees but ......sanctuary and residency are not necessarily the same things”. (Promised the reintroduction of temporary protection visas, abolished by the labour government)

Rudd: “It’s hard… One. There is a human and humane responsibility and an international legal responsibility to provide proper and humane protection for people who are in genuine fear of persecution and or death. And the other is to maintain an orderly migration system to this country as well…  We will not put children behind razor wire. We will not use something called a Pacific solution .... we are not going to engage in the politics of trying to out-extreme our political opponents on this question. I think the country is wise enough, I think the country is hard-headed enough and warm-hearted enough to know where the balance lies.”

On school chaplains:

Abbott: promised continuance of funding to the end of the current forward estimates period in 2014.

Rudd:  promised continuance of funding to the end of the program. Would he expand it? “My experience is that as I visit schools, the principals invariably tell me what a good job the chaplains are doing…. In terms of the future of the programme and its dimensions, we have a very open mind. But we’d like to get the data in first and just make sure that what we’re hearing anecdotally stacks up across the board.

On marriage being between a man and a woman and blocking attempts to have gay civil ceremonies which mimic marriage:

Abbott: “The short answer is yes. I am not against some kind of recognition for other relationships, but the marriage relationship is special.”

Rudd: “You would have seen in the debate over the last couple of years that we’ve been pretty clear about the point that the government’s view is that marriage is between a man and a woman. If you had any doubt about that you should have counted the number of protestors outside the ALP national conference a couple of years ag, when I reaffirmed that position. We’ve also said equally people in same sex relationships should not be discriminated against. ... But on the question of marriage, the position that the government has put, I believe is quite clear and that is that marriage is between a man and a woman.”

On the sexualisation of children and further action on a senate inquiry report on the matter:

Rudd: Didn’t have detail of the report so “I’ll take that on notice. As a father of three I get concerned about this..”. He said one part went to advertising standards, and the other part was social attitudes. “I believe every Australian child is deserving of a childhood like a childhood. But you know parents have a whole lot of responsibilities here too. Through Jim (ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace -pictured), we’ll try and get a defined response to those recommendations…”

Abbott: Wants a further review of the senate inquiry material. “...in the media there tends a race to the bottom so to speak when it comes to ever more graphic, ever more titillating portrayal of people. I don’t like it although I’m conscious of the tradition of freedom that we have as well in our society. I think the best way to handle this is to accept that our current classification system is broken…it doesn’t seem to apply community standards. We probably do need a further review building on the work of the senate inquiry. Any such review should be tasked with trying to come up with a new way of ensuring that proper comunity standards are applied to all media including new media. I don’t believe lassez faire is the way to go in this area.”