A NEW party that wants caning in schools consistent with biblical teachings and children "protected" from gay adults hopes to hold the balance of power after the next federal poll.

Rise Up Australia, led by fire-and-brimstone pastor Danny Nalliah, will run candidates in Victoria and other states at the next election.

Spouting some of the same ideologies as One Nation, it hopes for the kind of success Pauline Hanson's former party enjoyed in its heyday.

The Victorian-based party wants to "keep Australia Australian". It fears the adoption of sharia law and says civil war could erupt if all migrants do not assimilate.

Mr Nalliah, a pastor with Catch the Fire Ministries, upset many Victorians when he blamed the Black Saturday bushfires on state laws decriminalising abortion.

Mr Nalliah said his "heart is of love" for homosexuals, but the party would oppose gay marriage and adoption because children exposed to "unstable environments" were at heightened risk of depression and suicide.

But in schools, children should face the cane - in line with biblical values.

"The Bible says spare the rod and spoil the child and, if it's done with love, children will be much better off in the future."

A Sri Lankan migrant, the pastor said new Australians could "have your Lebanese bread, have your Italian pizza, have your Chinese fried rice" but should not expect Australians to bend their values for them.

World Vision chief executive and social justice campaigner Tim Costello warned against creating scapegoats, saying communities should be about "difference with dignity".

"It's far better to understand than to fight and to fear," Mr Costello said.

Rise Up Australia has 640 members and applied to the Australian Electoral Commission for registration. It hopes to name candidates in February.

marszalekj@heraldsun.com.au

Originally published as Bible party backs caning kids in schools