Chris Gardiner
Chris Gardiner is CEO of Police & Community Youth Clubs (PCYC) NSW, one of the largest youth organizations in Australia. PCYC has a unique relationship with the NSW Police Force, supporting the Youth Command with case management of young offenders and youth ‘hotpots’. Chris’s early years as a kid were in what is still a youth ‘hotspot’ – the Housing Department units around Lexington Place at Maroubra Beach. Chris has previously had leadership roles in hospital and aged care with Catholic Healthcare, and as Director of the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney’s Overseas Aid Fund. He has postgraduate qualifications in ethics and in international relations. The views Chris expresses in his contributions are his own.
Articles by Chris Gardiner
Endless cash donations do nothing to aid Asia
Britain has recently decided to stop overseas aid to India. It had become untenable for the Government to take money…... Read more
Get workers’ snouts out of the Government trough
Why should we expect others to cover our needs when we could and should do it ourselves? We want a…... Read more
Worshipping nature doesn’t help humanity
As human lives and communities are destroyed by floods in Australia, and we recall the devastation of the Haiti quake…... Read more
We must not list brothels on the stock market
It’s tough getting off a slippery slope. But we need our politicians to build an off ramp, quick smart, on…... Read more
WikiLeaks heralds the birth of Fellow Travellers 2.0
If you are sympathetic to work of Julian Assange, stop and think: am I at risk of becoming a Fellow…... Read more
Intolerant Churches punishing non-believers
When I was young Catholic, I remember being struck by the contrast between two different approaches to spreading the Gospel…... Read more
God bless the secular state
I can see why the new atheist commentators Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins want to take on the Pope. Here…... Read more
Farewell new paradigm, we hardly knew you
To all those in the The Punch community who wanted – needed – to believe in the ‘New Paradigm’ politics:…... Read more
Islam is the answer to Islam
During Ramadan just passed this last weekend, an Australian born Muslim cleric was reported to have called for the beheading…... Read more
The new Green paradigm: bugger the majority
Here’s a simple question in a democracy – if over 80 percent of the electorate support, through a formal vote,…... Read more
Vote Independent? Not if you believe in democracy
Did anyone else choke on their breakfast cereal hearing Rob Oakeshot demand party discipline from the Liberal leadership to protect…... Read more
Racist remarks betray a lack of simple respect
Some people dismiss political correctness too easily. Political correctness, when we are protesting a person being demeaned publicly, is simply…... Read more
Churches need an ethics lesson of their own
Go on , be a good Christian, sign the petition to stop parental choice about ethics classes for kids in…... Read more
The only debt these two are owed is gratitude
The only use of the word ‘debt’ that’s justified in the same sentence as John Howard and Peter Costello is…... Read more
Forget the nasty miners PM, what about the banks?
I think I’m with the miners – just why did the Prime Minister and Treasurer let the banks and finance…... Read more
Irreligious but good – ethics classes for heathens
Let’s for a moment accept that the majority of parents think that there should be time set aside in primary…... Read more
Who’ll move first to support the Robin Hood tax?
So who will be first to support the international ‘Robin Hood Tax’ – Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott? We can…... Read more
Message from the worm - it’s about emotions stupid
A few years ago an academic and political consultant called Drew Westen wrote a book called ‘The Political Brain’. Based…... Read more
Token ceremony openings must be brought to an end
There is nothing more certain to generate cynicism than having to suffer political correctness in full force. When the experience…... Read more
Abbott the progressive?
Which political leader has just adopted a policy to champion the rights of working women underpinned by progressive taxation? Not…... Read more
Diagnosis: PM has a disease called modern politics
Nothing of substance has occurred in health reform this week. The PM has announced a position he will take in…... Read more
Getting tough on parents when kids come second
Pay attention all parents before the Family Court and any parent who has come to the attention of the Police…... Read more
Why should teachers remain unaccountable?
The release of My School data as part of the Rudd Government’s ‘Education Revolution’ begs the question about a key…... Read more
Let’s stop taking our citizenship for granted
They take on the privileges of Australian citizenship with little real knowledge of, or attachment to, our key values and…... Read more
What’s not complicated about marriage and family
Another happy-go-lucky Hollywood production is out about infidelity: ‘It’s Complicated’. It may even win the star of the movie an…... Read more
Would it be too much to ask to have a saint with a family
I was raised a tyke in the 60s. The key role models who gave my life direction when I was…... Read more
On being ‘Progressive’
Note: This piece was prompted by a column by David Hetherington, the executive director of progressive think tank Per Capita,…... Read more
Power to the people on an ETS - without a new tax
Tony Abbott has rejected the dominant ETS paradigm. He says he wants, though, to re-balance business and household behaviour and…... Read more
Dignified disability scheme is paramount
God is capricious, arbitrary and callous when it comes to inflicting tragic disabilities on his/her creatures. The question is whether…... Read more
The eight inconvenient truths on boat people
Here are the eight inconvenient truths in the ongoing conversation on boat people over the last weeks and months in…... Read more
Abuser pays – make drunken idiots pay for their mayhem
Did I read the story correctly? Now police can’t even fine a person for drunken behaviour in public places? Time…... Read more
Failing kids, failing the community
The kid’s “parents” - his “parents” are his mum and her current boyfriend - don’t give a stuff. He hates…... Read more
The frog and the tadpoles: ban this man from travel
If Mr Sarkozy does not sack the French Culture Minister, Frederic Mitterrand, the international community should impose a travel ban…... Read more
The Eudy: a new global sports award
Some might charge me with politicizing Football – but here I go, here I go, here I go … With…... Read more
What Kyle says about the death of our civility
A radio personality returned to the air this week after time out to recover from an unfortunate incident arising from…... Read more
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Recent posts
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The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
