The Human Rights Law Centre is urging two Parliamentary inquiries to recommend that the Morrison Government’s deeply unbalanced Religious Discrimination Bill be opposed. 

The submission, made to separate inquiries by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, has highlighted a number of deep flaws and serious consequences that would flow if the Religious Discrimination Bill was passed. These include provisions that will:  

• Allow people to make derogatory, offensive and harmful statements of belief against others, including in workplaces, schools and health services, while denying access to justice for victims by overriding existing anti-discrimination laws. 

• Grant unprecedented licence to religious bodies, including schools and charities, to discriminate against people on the basis of faith. 

• Overthrow hard-fought state and territory anti-discrimination protections passed by democratically elected governments, including legislation recently passed by the Victorian Parliament that provides better protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ people, women and many others.  

Adrianne Walters, Legal Director, Human Rights Law Centre, said:

“Our laws should promote respect and inclusion. They should protect people of faith and no faith from discrimination, without eroding the right of others to equality and to safe and supportive workplaces, schools and public spaces. Women, LGBTIQ+ people, people with disability, school students and people of faith should not fear unfair treatment and harm. The Morrison Government’s proposed law fails on all fronts and should be rejected.” 

“The Bill has far-reaching implications for all people in Australia. It contains alarming provisions never before seen in Australian anti-discrimination laws. It goes far beyond the important goal of protecting people of faith from discrimination and fails to fairly balance every person’s right to equality with the freedom of religion.” 

“The Government’s disturbing Bill throws into sharp relief the lack of a robust framework for protecting and balancing all human rights in Australia. That is why we call for an Australian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, together with a modernised uniform anti-discrimination law.” 

The Human Rights Law Centre’s submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee can be viewed here.

Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash

Media contact:
Michelle Bennett, Engagement Director, 0485 864 320, michelle.bennett@hrlc.org.au