Coalition MPs have shared their support for stronger ‘religious freedom’ laws after this month’s election win.
Yesterday Attorney General Christian Porter told Sky News that protecting religious freedom was a major election issue, announcing that the government would get to work on producing a religious discrimination bill.
Conservative MPs Barnaby Joyce and Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells have voiced their desire for strong changes to Australian law, focusing on the recent case of Israel Folau being sacked by Rugby Australia for a social media post condemning gays, drunks and adulterers to hell.
“You can’t bring people’s faith beliefs into a contract,” Joyce told The Age.
“Your own views on who god is, where god is or whether there’s a god should remain your own personal views and not part of any contractual obligation.”
Conservative senator and vocal opponent of marriage equality Concetta Fierravanti-Wells added that she believes it is a “new dawn” for religious freedom, calling for a standalone Religious Freedom Act to provide stronger legal protections to people who speak on their faith.
Attorney General Porter recommended the Australian Law Reform Commission review current laws that allow religious institutions and schools to fire LGBTIQ+ staff and expel students earlier this year. Though the ALRC are yet to report their findings, Senator Fierravanti-Wells believes the government need not wait for the results.
“Whilst the ALRC is not due to report until 2020, given its diverse and broad terms of reference, I believe that the recent election has reinforced the need for more immediate legislative action,” Fierravanti-Wells said.
“This is vitally important to not only address our concerns but afford protection against these constant incursions from Labor, the Greens and their acolytes. It’s a new dawn on this issue.”
Advocacy group Equality Australia have slammed the announcement, saying it will do nothing more than enshrine LGBTIQ+ discrimination in law.
“Quite simply, this is a licence to discriminate against the LGBTIQ+ community,” said Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia.
“By allowing these laws to go ahead it sends a clear message to Australia’s LGBTIQ+ community that we are neither equal, nor valued by our Government.
“In 2017 Australians voted in overwhelming support for fairness and LGBTIQ+ equality, yet those who voted “No” continue to try and make our community pay a price.
“Framing this as a legal protection of religious freedoms is nothing short of deceitful. It is a legal protection for discrimination.
“Of course people of faith are deserving of protection from discrimination but this proposed Act is a corruption of religious freedom. It should be a shield to protect religious practice, not a sword to attack the LGBTIQ+ community.
“Australians want to build a nation that is inclusive and respectful, not one ruled by the politics of fear and division. Politicians must not be allowed to turn Australia into a country that pits minority against minority.
“These proposed laws allowing for discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community cannot go ahead.
“We are calling on the Morrison Government not to pursue a discriminatory agenda and instead follow through with their election commitments to remove discrimination against students in schools, support the mental health of LGBTIQ+ Australians and tackle religious conversion therapy.
“Discrimination has no place in Australian politics or Australian law. Our Government must work to develop laws that allow all Australians to remain equal.”
OIP Staff
