Daily Buzz: Penny Wong defends her family

Watch Penny Wong stick up for her family on Qanda: The same sex marriage issue was raised on on television last night which resulted in this exchange between Joe Hockey and Penny Wong on same sex marriage on the ABC’s QandA. It’s well worth a watch for Wong’s closing line:

ANTI GAY DOC RESIGNS FROM GOVERNMENT POST

Doctors for the Family, a group of doctors opposed to same sex marriage, made a submission to the Federal Senate inquiry and the fallout has been heavy. Victoria’s deputy chief psychiatrist Professor Kuruvilla George has resigned from his role on the board of the Victoria’s Equal Opportunities and Human Rights Commission after it became public his input formed part of the submission.

The submission said it was ‘important for the future health of our nation’ that marriage continue to be defined as a union between one man and one woman.

The Commission said in a statement: “As the agency responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in Victoria, the Commission sees the harmful effects that discrimination and inequality have on people and the hurt and damage caused by prejudice, vilification and damaging stereotypes.”

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) said it was proof activists didn’t want anyone who disagreed with their views given airtime.

The Australian Medical Association President Dr Steve Hambleton said:

“There is a growing body of evidence that says there’s no difference in their psychological development, their general health, their sexual orientation.”

Dr Hambleton says the opinions expressed in the submission do not reflect the views of the wider medical community, saying there are nearly 90,000 doctors in Australia.

Here’s what else is on our radar today:

1. Aussie CEOs aren’t big on hiring female executives any time soon. Some 68 per cent of CEOs asked said they would not be mandating that female candidates be included in any short list to fill senior management positions over the next six months.

2. ‘Fat tax’. One Melbourne council is considering upping the rates bills of fast food outlets like McDonalds and KFC by 400%.

3. Great. Virgin Atlantic has decided to allow mobile phone calls, texts and email on flights between New York and London. There goes the peace and quiet.

4. The Federal Government’s new ads spruiking the carbon tax ‘household assistance package’ make no mention of the phrase ‘carbon tax’. Nor does it mention the price on carbon, clean energy or the climate.

5. Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and her husband will be charged in relation to the phone hacking inquiry. She faces charges of obstruction of justice, her husband faces similar relating to allegations they tried to hide evidence.

6. Nannies should be regulated, the Opposition reckons. It has begun talks with agencies to form a policy that would control ‘backyard care’.