Religious discrimination act to form part of Coalition election platform
6 years, 3 months ago

Religious discrimination act to form part of Coalition election platform

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will take a proposal for a dedicated religious discrimination act to the next election, as he releases the findings of a lengthy review into the nation's religious freedoms. Key points: The federal Coalition will introduce a dedicated religious discrimination act if re-elected next year Malcolm Turnbull initiated a review into religious freedoms following the same-sex marriage survey The Federal Government has now accepted 15 of 20 recommendations from the review Coalition MPs have been agitating for such legislation for some time, particularly in the wake of last year's decision to legalise same-sex marriage. The inquiry into religious freedoms was commissioned by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, with the former Liberal minister Philip Ruddock steering the review. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten suggested there were more pressing issues to deal with than creating a specific religious discrimination act, such as jobs and health.

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History of this topic

Jacqui Lambie calls Scott Morrison 'selfish' over religious discrimination laws
3 years, 1 month ago

Jacqui Lambie calls Scott Morrison 'selfish' over religious discrimination laws

Daily Mail  

Jacqui Lambie has blasted proposed laws banning discrimination against religious people as 'disgusting' and called the Prime Minster 'selfish' for focussing on them. The Tasmanian senator is furious that Scott Morrison's Religious Discrimination Bill, which passed the lower house with support from Labor early on Thursday, will override existing state laws. Jacqui Lambie called the PM selfish for focussing on …

If the Religious Discrimination Bill is passed by the Senate, it should include the “Christchurch amendment”
3 years, 1 month ago

If the Religious Discrimination Bill is passed by the Senate, it should include the “Christchurch amendment”

ABC  

In my work as an advocate, I have supported fellow Australian Muslims who have experienced the profound humiliation of discrimination. Opposition to the Religious Discrimination Bill has been well organised and ferocious — including on the part of many who work in social justice, human rights, and culturally diverse organisations. The Christchurch amendment: mirrored the threshold used by the government …

Government shelves religious freedom bill indefinitely, leaving election promise hanging in uncertainty
3 years, 1 month ago

Government shelves religious freedom bill indefinitely, leaving election promise hanging in uncertainty

ABC  

The government has indefinitely shelved its bid to overhaul religious freedom laws, leaving one of the Coalition's central 2019 election commitments hanging in uncertainty. Key points: The government has shelved its religious freedom bill after a failed motion in the Senate The government lost a major vote on its religious discrimination bill overnight Liberal MPs voted against the government to …

Scott Morrison is in a flying rush this week and religious discrimination bill is next on his list
3 years, 1 month ago

Scott Morrison is in a flying rush this week and religious discrimination bill is next on his list

ABC  

For a government that won in 2019 without the burden of an extensive agenda for the following three years, there does seem to be an almighty rush in this final fortnight of parliament before the late-March Budget springboards us into another election campaign. The Religious Discrimination Act and the Commonwealth Integrity Commission, in particular, were promised before the last election, …

Labor will back the government's religious discrimination bill, will attempt to include trans protections in Senate
3 years, 1 month ago

Labor will back the government's religious discrimination bill, will attempt to include trans protections in Senate

ABC  

A battle looms over the government's proposed religious discrimination laws, after Labor vowed to fight for protections for LGBT teachers and transgender students once the bill reaches the Senate. Key points: Labor will back the religious discrimination bill if protections are given to trans students The government needs the support of Labor or crossbench MPs to pass the bill Moderate …

Federal parliament is back for the first sitting of 2022 as religious discrimination bill and Coalition infighting take centre stage
3 years, 1 month ago

Federal parliament is back for the first sitting of 2022 as religious discrimination bill and Coalition infighting take centre stage

ABC  

The Coalition will be forced to confront internal divisions over its contentious religious discrimination bill, as it tries to ram the legislation through this week to protect a promise taken to the last election. Key points: Federal parliament will meet today for the first sitting of the year Battles over the religious discrimination bill are expected to flare Parliament will …

Transgender students won't be protected from expulsion under proposed change to Sex Discrimination Act
3 years, 1 month ago

Transgender students won't be protected from expulsion under proposed change to Sex Discrimination Act

ABC  

A plan to amend the Sex Discrimination Act to ensure schools can't expel students and teachers for their sexual orientation won't extend to protecting transgender students from expulsion, one of the government's most senior ministers says. Key points: Existing laws allow schools to exclude students and staff over sexuality, gender and other factors The government has committed to protecting people …

Labor MP Stephen Jones calls for Religious Discrimination Bill to not be rushed through parliament
3 years, 1 month ago

Labor MP Stephen Jones calls for Religious Discrimination Bill to not be rushed through parliament

ABC  

Labor Shadow Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has given an emotional statement calling on parliament not to rush the government's Religious Discrimination Bill through in its current form. Key points: Stephen Jones says the struggles of family members guided his opposition to the current bill Liberal MP Bridget Archer says she will not support the bill A second Liberal MP has …

Nothing less than the character of Australian secularism is at stake in the religious discrimination debate
3 years, 4 months ago

Nothing less than the character of Australian secularism is at stake in the religious discrimination debate

ABC  

The last few years have seen an unprecedented level of public interest in and disagreement over religion and its place in Australian society. By contrast, if passed the federal Religious Discrimination Bill will be a conspicuous addition to this tapestry of laws, public policy, and social conventions that make up the Australian state-religion relationship. It is therefore important, not only …

Federal government under pressure from within its own ranks to protect gay students and teachers
3 years, 4 months ago

Federal government under pressure from within its own ranks to protect gay students and teachers

Daily Mail  

The federal government is under pressure from within its own ranks to make sure teachers can't be sacked and students expelled because of their sexuality or gender identity. The introduction of the government's religious discrimination bill that would green light faith-based hiring has fuelled momentum for greater protections for LGBTQI+ people. Prime Minister Scott Morrison maintains nothing in the bill …

Prime Minister urged to protect gay students, teachers as religious discrimination bill introduced
3 years, 4 months ago

Prime Minister urged to protect gay students, teachers as religious discrimination bill introduced

ABC  

The Prime Minister has introduced the religious discrimination bill to parliament, but he is being urged by moderate Liberal MPs to also act immediately to ensure gay students and teachers are better protected. Key points: Scott Morrison said the bill would protect people of faith against "cancel culture" The proposed law would protect people making "statements of belief" as long …

Scott Morrison quotes Bible as he introduces new religious discrimination laws
3 years, 4 months ago

Scott Morrison quotes Bible as he introduces new religious discrimination laws

Daily Mail  

Scott Morrison quoted the Bible as he personally introduced new religious freedom laws that enshrine the right of faith schools to only hire teachers of the same religion. The Prime Minister said Aussies are worried about 'cancel culture in Australian life' and said the new laws would protect religious people from being 'fearful about what they believe'. Mr Morrison said …

Queer and devout: The Australians caught in the middle of the religious discrimination bill
3 years, 4 months ago

Queer and devout: The Australians caught in the middle of the religious discrimination bill

ABC  

Religious freedom has been a hot-button issue since same-sex marriage was legalised in 2017. 'An additional route to discriminate' Simon Rice, Professor of Law at the University of Sydney and member of the Australian Discrimination Law Experts Group, says such discrimination is already permissible thanks to religious exemptions in existing discrimination law, "including the Sex Discrimination Act, the NSW Anti-Discrimination …

PM to personally introduce religious discrimination bill, as moderate Liberals remain concerned with details
3 years, 4 months ago

PM to personally introduce religious discrimination bill, as moderate Liberals remain concerned with details

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will personally introduce his watered-down religious discrimination bill into the federal parliament, even though some of his moderate MPs still "question the need" for the legislation. "It is not discrimination for a religious hospital, aged care facility, accommodation provider or disability service provider to seek to preserve a religious ethos amongst its staff by making faith-based …

Ian Thorpe campaigns against religious discrimination bill, saying it will remove Australia's 'fair go'
5 years, 1 month ago

Ian Thorpe campaigns against religious discrimination bill, saying it will remove Australia's 'fair go'

ABC  

Ian Thorpe has visited MPs at Parliament House to lobby against the Government's religious discrimination bill, saying it goes against the Australian notion of a "fair go" and will divide the country. Key points: The Olympian says the bill goes against the Australian concept of a "fair go" He says the bill will restrict people's access to hospital services and …

Do we need new laws to protect religious freedom in Australia?
5 years, 1 month ago

Do we need new laws to protect religious freedom in Australia?

ABC  

Father Frank Brennan SJ AO delivered the sixth annual Barry O’Keefe Memorial Lecture at the Australian Catholic University in North Sydney on Wednesday, 19 February 2020. The most recent report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief to the UN Human Rights Council notes: he jurisprudence of the Human Rights Committee and the regional human rights courts …

Religious discrimination bill gets delayed as PM Scott Morrison announces new draft
5 years, 4 months ago

Religious discrimination bill gets delayed as PM Scott Morrison announces new draft

ABC  

Legislation aimed at preventing religious discrimination will not be introduced to Federal Parliament this year as planned, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced. Key points: The draft legislation aimed at protecting religious freedoms attracted around 6,000 submissions, mostly critical The Prime Minister expects a second draft of the bill to be released before the end of the year The Opposition …

The Religious Discrimination Bill isn’t (just) about Christians
5 years, 7 months ago

The Religious Discrimination Bill isn’t (just) about Christians

ABC  

It is no accident that Attorney General Christian Porter launched the exposure drafts of the Religious Discrimination Bill in the Great Synagogue in Sydney. As Chief Justice Latham explained in Adelaide Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses v Commonwealth, “he religion of the majority of the people can look after itself.” Whereas laws such as those proposed in the Religious Discrimination Bill …

Religious discrimination proposal could allow companies to stop employees expressing beliefs
5 years, 7 months ago

Religious discrimination proposal could allow companies to stop employees expressing beliefs

ABC  

Businesses could have the ability to stop their employees expressing their personal beliefs if they can show it would cause financial damage to their brand, under draft Federal Government religious discrimination laws. Key points: Attorney-General releases draft religious discrimination legislation after months of consultation Companies could have to prove their brand is suffering if it wants to stop employees expressing …

Scott Morrison promises religious discrimination act this year, Coalition to consult with Labor
5 years, 9 months ago

Scott Morrison promises religious discrimination act this year, Coalition to consult with Labor

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will consult with Labor on the design of the promised religious discrimination act and pledged to introduce the laws to parliament this year. Key points: Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will discuss the proposed religious discrimination act with Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese Mr Morrison says he believes China's leader Xi Jinping has an …

Courting religious voters in the 2019 federal election
6 years ago

Courting religious voters in the 2019 federal election

ABC  

With the federal election campaign just around the corner, it would be understandable if people of faith were confused about the stance the major political parties take on religious issues, particularly given the differing responses of these parties to the Ruddock Report on religious freedom, which was completed in May 2018. The expulsion "emergency" In October 2018, many weeks before …

The Ruddock Freedom of Religion Review is about much more than discrimination
6 years, 3 months ago

The Ruddock Freedom of Religion Review is about much more than discrimination

ABC  

The Freedom of Religion Review and the government's response have now been released. Recommendation 18 of the Religious Freedom Review directly addresses this issue: The Commonwealth should support the development of a religious engagement and public education program about human rights and religion in Australia, the importance of the right to freedom of religion and belief, and the current protections …

Bringing race into the religious freedom debate could make for an ugly election
6 years, 3 months ago

Bringing race into the religious freedom debate could make for an ugly election

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's decision to take a proposal for a religious discrimination act to the next election is quietly dividing his colleagues, with some fearing it could further alienate small "l" liberal voters who are fatigued by this debate. Unintended consequences to review delay In an attempt to ensure the marriage equality laws were enshrined by Christmas last year, …

Labor accuses Coalition of 'weaponising' gay student discrimination ban, after Prime Minister's ultimatum
6 years, 3 months ago

Labor accuses Coalition of 'weaponising' gay student discrimination ban, after Prime Minister's ultimatum

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has challenged the Federal Opposition to back the Government's bill to ban religious schools from discriminating against LGBTI students, or allow Labor members a conscience vote on the issue. Key points: The Coalition and Labor both have bills before the Parliament to amend the Sex Discrimination Act Scott Morrison is challenging Labor to back his bill …

ACT to close discrimination loophole against LGBTI students and teachers
6 years, 5 months ago

ACT to close discrimination loophole against LGBTI students and teachers

ABC  

The ACT Government will today introduce legislation aimed at closing a loophole that allows religious schools to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex students and teachers. "Religious educational institutions should be free to select both their students and their staff against publicly-stated criteria," Chief Minister Barr said. "We appear to be getting that national approach as it relates …

Ruddock religious freedom review sparks new laws to protect students and staff in ACT
6 years, 5 months ago

Ruddock religious freedom review sparks new laws to protect students and staff in ACT

ABC  

The ACT Government will bring in new laws to prevent discrimination against Canberra students and teachers based on their sexual identity. Key points: Chief Minister says 'discrimination still possible' in ACT New laws will prevent discrimination based on sexuality The legislation will be introduced next week It comes after national debate over potential changes to federal sexual discrimination laws prompted …

Schools are no place for discrimination; it's not just about the students
6 years, 5 months ago

Schools are no place for discrimination; it's not just about the students

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's decision to ban discrimination against gay students is a remarkable demonstration of the power of public opinion, once galvanised, to rapidly shift political debate. The other issue less discussed is discrimination against LGBTI teachers and families in religious schools, and discrimination against LGBTI staff and clients in other faith-based services. The same arguments can be made …

Philip Ruddock plays down religious freedoms report recommendations, says discrimination law should be 'contracted'
6 years, 5 months ago

Philip Ruddock plays down religious freedoms report recommendations, says discrimination law should be 'contracted'

ABC  

A review into religious protections in Australia has recommended making it more difficult for schools to turn away gay students, according to the report's author Philip Ruddock. Mr Ruddock said his review recommended making the laws consistent across the country and forcing schools that do discriminate to be upfront about it by publicly stating their rules and beliefs. The report's …

Religious freedom panel recommends formalising ability for religious schools to turn away gay students
6 years, 5 months ago

Religious freedom panel recommends formalising ability for religious schools to turn away gay students

ABC  

The process for religious schools to turn away gay students would be made consistent across the country, if a proposal from the yet-to-be-released Ruddock review into religious protections is adopted by the Federal Government. Key points: Review into religious protections recommended schools be able to discriminate on sexual orientation Prime Minister Scott Morrison says yet-to-be-released review has not yet been …

Religious freedom and the rights of LGBTI people: Lessons of recent history
6 years, 7 months ago

Religious freedom and the rights of LGBTI people: Lessons of recent history

ABC  

Since day one, critics of the Religious Freedom Review - chaired by former minister Phillip Ruddock - have argued that the inquiry is not really about religion. The final report of the Inquiry into Sexuality Discrimination addressed "religious freedom" in four succinct pages. The inquiry's recommendation would mean that religious organisations that wished to deny services or employment to LGBT …

Philip Ruddock to review religious protections amid same-sex marriage debate
7 years, 4 months ago

Philip Ruddock to review religious protections amid same-sex marriage debate

ABC  

Former Liberal frontbencher Philip Ruddock will chair a panel tasked with reviewing protections for religious freedom, the Federal Government has announced. Key points: Existing bill already contains provisions for religious ministers so they don't have to conduct same-sex weddings Some conservatives want protections to go further, to be dealt with before passing bill Malcolm Turnbull asked Philip Ruddock to conduct …

Ministers at odds over whether to include religious protections in same-sex marriage bill
7 years, 4 months ago

Ministers at odds over whether to include religious protections in same-sex marriage bill

ABC  

A split is widening within the Turnbull Government about whether religious amendments to same-sex marriage legislation should be debated this year or in 2018. Key points: Conservatives in Coalition want to allow civil celebrants to reject weddings, protect religious charities Liberal senator Dean Smith's bill before parliament is widely supported, protects religious ministers from performing SSM services Liberal MP Tim …

Victoria threatens to make it harder to criticise Islam
8 years ago

Victoria threatens to make it harder to criticise Islam

Daily Mail  

Victoria is threatening to make it harder to criticise Islam if the Turnbull government changes race hate laws. Scroll down for video Victoria's Multicultural Affairs Minister Robin Scott has flagged tougher laws on religious vilification Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced plans to amend 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission's website cites …

Tasmania seeks to protect 'freedom of religion' ahead of gay marriage debate
8 years, 7 months ago

Tasmania seeks to protect 'freedom of religion' ahead of gay marriage debate

ABC  

The Tasmanian Government's proposed changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act has raised the ire of conservative groups and same-sex marriage advocates. In the lead-up to a national plebiscite on same-sex marriage, the State Government has proposed changes that would create a "reasonableness test" within the act. Premier Will Hodgman said the changes would allow "genuine protection of freedom of religion by …

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