“Prime Minister Rudd should stand up and be counted on his much marketed Christian status and keep the School Chaplaincy program going,” said The Nationals’ Senator Ron Boswell today.

“He used Christians to get into power at the last election by selling himself in a webcast to a huge audience of Australian Christians.” “Every Sunday the Prime Minister holds a media doorstop outside a church.” “All these appeals to the Christian vote are well and good but Rudd has to deliver or it will be seen as a cynical political ploy with no real basis.” Senator Boswell said that Christians took Kevin Rudd at his word and would be badly let down if the Prime Minister’s government abandoned the popular and successful School Chaplaincy program. “Under questioning from Senator Brett Mason, the Estimates Committee heard the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Kim Carr, refusing to guarantee that the chaplaincy program will continue beyond this financial year.” “Ninety-seven per cent of school principals want the program to continue and there has been positive feedback to the department but the Rudd government is pulling the plug on a great grass roots initiative.” “I have met with some of these school chaplains and seen what a difference they can make to young people who may be finding it difficult to cope. In regional areas they are especially popular and wanted by the community.” Senator Boswell said that it was very bad form to put yourself forward as a Christian to win votes then turn around and knee cap a program with overwhelming support from the Christian community. ENDS