Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signalled he would like to see the Religious Discrimination Bill legislated during Labor’s first term in Parliament. Speaking after attending a church service prior to the opening session of the new Parliament on July 26, the prime minister noted that he respected all people of faith and would look…

Australia’s faith-based groups have called on the next Parliament to provide greater protection for people of faith and stronger support for traditional values, as conservative voters are expected to play an important role in the outcome of the upcoming federal election. While Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese did not touch…

Australia’s largest Christian lobby is mobilising to put pressure on right-leaning Liberal MPs who they say are not standing up for religious freedom. The Australian Christian Lobby on Wednesday announced its largest information campaign ahead of the federal election, which its managing director said would aim at “calling out” and preventing “ideological cancer” that has been…

Australia’s largest Christian lobby group is mobilising to put pressure on centre-right Liberal MPs who they say are not standing up for religious freedom. The Australian Christian Lobby on Wednesday announced its largest information campaign ahead of the federal election, which its managing director said would aim at “calling out” and preventing “ideological cancer” that has…

Commentary In a resort on the Sunshine Coast, I recently saw a poster with the caption, “How beautiful it is to do nothing … and then rest afterwards.” The poster obviously served as an encouragement for people to visit the Coast, enjoy themselves and do nothing, and then rest afterwards. However, the caption could appropriately…

Commentary Despite a commitment during the 2019 election campaign by the Morrison government to legislate for religious freedom, the Religious Discrimination Bill has just been shelved by the government. This occurred after Labor, and five Liberal MPs decided to vote for the repeal of all religious exemptions for faith-based educational institutions in relation to students….

Commentary The promise to legislate for religious freedom protections was considered a key commitment of the Coalition during the 2019 election campaign. The case of the Catholic Archbishop of Hobart, Julian Porteous, who was brought to the Tasmanian anti-discrimination commission simply because he authorised the distribution of a booklet outlining the Church’s position on traditional…

The Victorian government has made suppression of an LGBITQ+ individual a jailable offence in the state, after passing into law the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 on Feb.17. The new law(pdf),  means that anyone who attempts to convert or suppress the sexual orientation or gender identity of Victorian LGBTIQ+ members can face up to…

The Victorian government has made suppression of an LGBITQ+ individual a jailable offence in the state, after passing into law the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 on Feb.17. The new law(pdf),  means that anyone who attempts to convert or suppress the sexual orientation or gender identity of Victorian LGBTIQ+ members can face up to…

Chances of the religious discrimination bill becoming law are fading after the government shelved the bill indefinitely, potentially leaving one of the central election promises of Prime Minister Scott Morrison unfulfilled. After a marathon 10-hour debate, the bill passed the House of Representatives in the early hours of Thursday morning after five Liberal backbenchers crossed the floor…