Kevin Andrews, Newly Appointed Australian Minister for Social Services, Writes for 'The Family in America'
Mr. Andrews is a long-time member of the Australian government, first serving as a member of the House of Representatives for the division of Menzies in 1991. On September 16, Andrews was named the Minister of Social Services in the new conservative, pro-family Abbott government. In this role, he will administer a number of areas formerly covered by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs, and will be responsible for what an Abbott press release calls "the largest area of expenditure and payments in the Budget." Andrews was actively involved in World Congress of Families VII: Happy Families, Healthy Economy, chaired by Mary Louise Fowler of the Australian Family Association, held in Sydney, Australia, May 15-18 of 2013. He and his wife, Margaret, also addressed World Congress of Families I (Prague 1997), II (Geneva 1999), and V (Amsterdam, 2009). A long-time WCF leader, he was profiled in the April 2010 World Congress of Families News. Andrews also serves as a special World Congress of Families International Ambassador for the natural family.
The summer issue of The Family in America was titled "Family Policy Lessons from Other Lands," and in it, Mr. Andrews laid forth his comprehensive "National Family Policy Proposal," adapted from his new book, Maybe 'I Do' – Modern Marriage and the Pursuit of Happiness (Ballan: Connor Court, 2012). His proposals are based upon two principles: "First, public policy should protect and foster marriage and family; and, secondly, wherever possible, public policy should utilize the family and community organizations, rather than displacing them." To support such a policy, Mr. Andrews puts forth four policy goals:
1. "Nations should have an explicit marriage and family policy."
2. "They should seek to maintain at least a replacement birthrate."
3. "National policy should proclaim the ideal of marital permanence and affirm marriage as the optimal environment for the raising of children."
4. "The policy should value family stability and reinforce personal and intergenerational responsibility."
Dr. Allan Carlson, editor of The Family in America, commented, "Kevin is both a friend and an able and faithful supporter of the natural family in Australian politics. His family policy proposals are both timely and refreshing, and we are honored to have him appear in our pages."
