Hot topics for some Christians this election include abortion law and equal opportunity law, two battlegrounds where the incumbent Liberal Government is claiming to have the upper hand.

On Tuesday night at Parliament House during a forum hosted by ACL, the leader of the Labor Opposition, Daniel Andrews stood alongside Premier Dennis Napthine taking questions from the all-Christian audience.

Front and centre was the issue of abortion. Under Victorian law, a doctor who has a conscientious objection to providing information about abortion to a woman must refer her to another doctor who will provide it.

It’s proved difficult for Christian doctors who feel their conscience isn’t clear referring a woman on to another doctor who will go on to facilitate an abortion. The issue has been brought to the fore after Independent MP Geoff Shaw flagged a private member’s bill to reform the law.

Last night, the Victorian Premier and Opposition Leader each said the issue had been resolved in 2008 when the law was amended, but if a private member’s bill was introduced, they would allow a conscience vote.

“If a private members’ bill was introduced then we would certainly allow a conscience vote,” Premier Dr Napthine said.

“My position would be to afford a conscience vote,” Mr Andrews said.

Another hot button issue for Christians addressed last night is changes to religious exemptions under the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act. Under these exemptions, religious organisations can employ people of a particular faith. Labor’s election policy platform clearly states they intend to “reverse the Coalition Government’s amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act”, and Mr Andrew reiterated this again last night.

The Australian Christian Lobby has expressed their disappointment at this, but Christians don’t hold a universal position on the issue.

For example, Isaiah One, a coalition of Christians concerned about human rights believe that “religious exemptions should reflect actual needs, based on evidence; and Christians should have due regard for those who can be negatively affected by exemptions, including non-Christians”, and that Christians should recognise that places like Queensland and Tasmania where there are much narrower exemptions haven’t had religious freedom injured as a result.

The Victorian State election has been called for November 29.