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Folau controversy

May 2023

Prime mover: Stuart Wood, QC.

Vic Bar rebukes top silk for ‘cash’ comments on Voice

The head of the Victorian Bar has castigated a senior silk for suggesting Voice supporters are motivated by financial gain.

  • Michael Pelly

October 2022

Gina Rinehart: “Unnecessary for sports organisations to be used as a vehicle for social or political causes.”

Oil and gas companies targeted over sports sponsorship

The fight against “sportswashing” is now affecting some of Australia’s biggest resources and energy companies and their sponsorship of sporting teams. Where’s the line?

  • Jennifer Hewett

December 2021

If Bill Shorten had won the 2019 election, in all likelihood he would have attempted to manage COVID-19 in the much the same way as has Scott Morrison.

Libs like Labor as far as eye can see

For all the fuss, the result of next year’s election may not end up being that important when so many policy positions are indistinguishable.

  • John Roskam

November 2021

Scott Morrison finds that religion and politics do mix.

Morrison finds that religion and politics do mix

The Prime Minister is promoting not only the importance of protecting religious freedom but also the value of political signalling ahead of the election.

  • Jennifer Hewett

May 2020

On the move: George Haros has jonned global firm DWF.

Israel Folau's lawyer tips wave of litigation over COVID job cuts

Israel Folau's lawyer is on the move and tipping there will be lots of work for employment specialists against professional services firms.

  • Michael Pelly
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February 2020

Attorney-General Christian Porter is under pressure from business.

Business ramps up fight on religious freedom law

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Australian Medical Association warned the proposed law may put companies in a "very expensive" position.

  • John Kehoe

December 2019

"This is a law for all Australians," Scott Morrison says of changes to proposed religious freedom laws.

Reworked religious freedom bill fails to placate critics

The government has made 11 changes to its religious freedom legislation to minimise dissent. LGBTIQ groups say the changes have made it worse.

  • Phillip Coorey
Israel Folau and wife Maria couldn't smile wide enough after a settlement was reached on Wednesday.

Choose your own adventure: Israel Folau's settlement

Is wishful thinking enough for a front-page splash?

  • Myriam Robin
Israel Folau wants to play rugby league again for Tonga.

Israel Folau settles with Rugby Australia

Former Australia fullback Israel Folau has settled his unfair dismissal case with Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs.

  • Updated
  • Liz Main

November 2019

Scott Morrison, Israel Folau, Alan Jones. Photo: SMH/The Age

Israel Folau's bushfire comments 'insensitive': PM

Scott Morrison says Israel Folau's comments were "appallingly insensitive": as fires continue to burn in NSW and Queensland.

October 2019

Kate Eastman's social media presence – the epitome of a left-wing lawyer – may also be used as a weapon against her.

In Folau case, a feminist lawyer's record goes on trial

Kate Eastman has spent her career defending free speech and human rights. Now she finds her own record under attack after firing the rugby star.

  • Aaron Patrick

September 2019

Israel Folau told coach Wallabies Michael Cheika his social media activity would not be "an issue going forward".

Waratahs accuse Israel Folau of gay vilification

The NSW Waratahs say they had no option but to fire Israel Folau from the rugby team because he vilified gay people on social media.

  • Liz Main and David Marin-Guzman
Employers will have to reconcile new religious freedom laws in situations such as Israel Folau's.

Religious freedom laws leave employers with few options

Legal protection for large employers in draft religious freedom laws will be hard to use in practice and will be too narrow to justify firing an employee whose religious views breach their employment conditions.

  • Liz Main

August 2019

Christian Porter releases of a draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill at the Great Synagogue in Sydney.

Firing Folau harder under new religious protection law

Larger businesses, including sporting bodies, will find it harder to sack people in situations such as the Israel Folau case under a new Religious Discrimination Act proposed by the Morrison government.

  • Phillip Coorey
As a born again Christian, Israel Folau says he has a duty to spread the word of God using social media.

Israel Folau claims his contract was illegal

Israe Folau claimed the rugby tribunal's ruling to tear up his player contract was unenforceable because it puts unreasonable restraints on his ability to play again.

  • Updated
  • Liz Main
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An apology from Rugby Australia and the Waratahs could help settle Israel Folau's court fight with his ex-employers.

Rugby Australia accused of stalling in Folau case

Rugby star Israel Folau's court case against Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs will to go trial in February.

  • Liz Main

May 2019

Israel Folau leaves his tribunal earlier in May.

Rugby Australia tears up Israel Folau's contract

Rugby Australia and Israel Folau look set for a showdown in the coiurts.

  • Max Mason and Michael Pelly
Wallabies star Israel Folau leaves a Code of Conduct hearing in Sydney on Tuesday.

Rugby Australia does the right thing by sponsors

Brands like Qantas want to be associated with high integrity and it was important for Rugby Australia to act over Israel Folau's social media comments, marketers say.

  • Max Mason

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/folau-controversy-1my5