Category: Religious Discrimination Bill

Secularism May Be the New Religion in Australia

Commentary In the last sitting weeks of the Australian Parliament, the political landscape focuses on the Religious Discrimination Bill introduced by the Attorney-General, Senator Michaelia Cash. The adoption of a law to protect freedom of religion was an election pledge of Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the 2019 election. However, the proposed Bill, initially promoted…


Religious Believers in Australia Get Protections, Not Freedom

Commentary Time appeared to be running out for the Australian government to deliver on its 2019 election pledge to legislate protections for religious believers and faith-based organisations. But in late November, Attorney-General Michaelia Cash finally briefed the Coalition party room as she prepared to put the exposure draft of her Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 before…


Australia’s Attorney-General Set to Introduce Religious Discrimination Bill into Federal Parliament

Federal Attorney-General Michaelia Cash is set to introduce the Morrison government’s Religious Discrimination Bill that will see religious protections enshrined nationally. The Bill will go to the Coalition party room on Nov. 23 and will be introduced into the lower house this week. In a joint statement, Catholic, Jewish, and Islamic faith leaders from across…


Australian Faith Based Schools To Have Discretionary Hiring Protections Under Religious Discrimination Bill

The revamped religious discrimination bill will allow schools to hire people on the basis of faith but will not shield employees from prosecution for making statements of belief that might offend others, Education Minister Alan Tudge said. The bill would also not allow a school to reject a teacher based on their sexuality or other traits,…


Religious Discrimination Law Edge Closer Amidst Mounting Tensions Over ‘Folau Clause’

The Morrison government is expected to bring its religious discrimination laws to parliament as early as next week, sparking a heated debate about whether the bill should ban indirect discrimination and prevent employers from framing policies to bar employees from expressing religious views. The much-delayed bill, which is yet to be released, sought to fulfil…


Why Religious Freedom Laws Are Needed in Australia Now More Than Ever

Commentary Cowed by public health reprimands and driven back into lockdown for fear of contagion, many Australians these days appear content to sacrifice liberty for the sake of safety. But the beacon of liberty continues to glow, and there are hopes it will yet burn brightly. All but forgotten as COVID-19 overwhelmed the nation last…