A federal inquiry into freedom of religion in Australia has been issued a submission that warns religious freedom is being stifled by the rise of LGBTQIA+ rights, euthanasia and abortion laws.
Family Council of WA, which represents a number of groups, have submitted a list of what they describe as “major concerns” regarding proposed laws across the country.
The submission directly mentions Premier Mark McGowan’s commitment to continue funding the Safe Schools anti-bullying program when federal funding is exhausted, purporting that it pressures students into “accepting homosexuality as normal.”
“The concept of freedom of religion and belief, of individuals and organisations, has been the basis of Western civilisation for centuries,” the Family Council of WA submitted.
“These rights are increasingly threatened, even eliminated, by relentless governmental legislative action.”
The submission also argues that state support of the Safe Schools program are in breach of provisions outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Public Health Association of Australia have also submitted a report to the same federal inquiry, arguing that this discussion “must acknowledge the tensions that exist between religion and the rights of women, female children and people of diverse gender and sexuality.”
“The right to freedom of religion may be limited. It is recommended that discrimination against women, female children and people who are not heteronormative in sexuality or gender be prohibited even where that discrimination is grounded in religious belief,” the Public Health Association’s submission states.
Speaking at a Safe Schools rally last year ahead of WA’s state election, now Education Minister Sue Ellery said WA Labor supports the anti-bullying program “because it works.”
“I support Safe Schools because school leaders, school principals, teachers and students have told me that this program saves lives.”
All submissions to this federal inquiry can be found here.
OIP Staff
Edited:- (14/06) A previous version of this article listed Salvation Army as being represented by the Family Council of WA. OUTinPerth was informed by a spokesperson for Salvation Army that the organisation was not aware of the submission.
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