Lyn Allison
Topic convention - Ever wondered why God is a bloke?
Lyn Allison was a member of the Australian Senate from 1996 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria and was the last federal parliamentary leader of the Australian Democrats.
During her time in the Senate she established a reputation as a strong advocate of church state separation, federal government funding for public schools and as an advocate for nuclear disarmament.
On December 5, 2006, Allison introduced into the Senate a bill titled the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill 2006, which would prevent Australia from using, possessing and manufacturing cluster munitions.
Senator Allison was also among a cross-party group of female parliamentarians who introduced legislation into parliament in 2006 which effectively legalised the supply of the abortion pill RU486.
Allison was awarded Australian Humanist of the Year in 2008 by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies. She currently serves as President of Dying With Dignity Victoria, which lobbies for reform of euthanasia laws, and is a committee member of the Rationalist Society of Australia.
Allison is an atheist who spoke first for the affirmative in a 2008 Australian Radio National debate “Would We Be Better Off Without Religion?”
