LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY crazyjane13)

Rev. Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision and one of the leaders of the Make Poverty History Coalition, today weighed into the Australian Federal Election. He indicated that he'd direct the members of the Coalition (which includes Hillsong, the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance and is affiliated with the Assemblies of God World Relief among others) to vote for the party which promised to increase foreign aid to 0.5% of Gross Domestic Product. This is a pledge that has been made by the Labor Party, but not matched by the Liberal Party, so effectively Rev. Costello is saying he will direct his 100,00+ members to vote Labor.

Given that Rev. Costello is, in fact, the brother of Australian Treasurer (and Liberal Party MP) Peter Costello, this is particularly interesting. Interviewed tonight, the Reverend described the issue of foreign aid repeatedly as "moral, not political", and made a point of stressing the numbers of "Christians" who would be likely to change their vote because of it. It was clearly political blackmail, and the organisations affiliated with his coalition make me very, very nervous.

This looks like the first overt lobbying threat by Dominionists and their allies.