Faith no more: religious leaders dismayed as discrimination laws shelved

Religious leaders across the country say the failure to pass religious discrimination protections is ‘bitterly’ disappointing.

Anglican Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead. Picture: John Feder

Faith leaders say they are dis­appointed that the religious freedom package was shelved before the federal election, and they continue to face a gap in protection laws.

Australian National Imams Council spokesman Bilal Rauf criticised the shelving of the religious discrimination bill, describing it as a “critical piece” of legislation to protect religious ­minorities.

“We are very concerned about it being shelved – the bill represents what is a very critical piece of proposed legislation that fills a distinct gap in the protection laws,” he said. “Others provide protection based on a number of attributes; one missing is religious protection, particularly for minority faith communities where their religion is apparent from what they wear, such as women who wear a veil.

“They are the ones who are most susceptible and we hear every day of situations where women face discrimination or men may want to engage in Friday congregational prayer and are faced with very challenging ­circumstances.”

Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Keysar Trad said most people of faith wanted religion to be a legally protected attribute, as were race and gender. “People of faith in Australia are the majority. When it comes to this type of bill, to give some limited protection to people of faith, we are being treated as the minority,” he said.

“Delays in this bill are undermining the democratic process by allowing the fears of a minority to dictate what the majority of Australians can articulate (about) their religious positions.

“The reality among the constituency … (is) people of faith prefer to have these protections so they can learn and practise their religious teachings.”

Scott Morrison on the attack during question time in the House of Representatives in Canberra on Thursday. Picture: Gary Ramage

Australian Christian Lobby nat­ional director of politics Wendy Francis said it was ­“bitterly” disappointing the bill was unlikely to pass the Senate before the election. “It was always going to be dead in the water as soon as it started getting this amendment and that amendment,” she said.

“All of a sudden at the 11th hour we have new amendments no one has had a chance to look at. Now we are without a religious discrimination bill before the election.

“We are bitterly disappointed that the passage of the bill has been defeated.”

Australian Association of Christian Schools executive officer Vanessa Cheng said she was concerned about section 38 of the Sex Discrimination Act being removed entirely. That section would give religious schools the ability to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy.

“We have consistently said we don’t expel students on the basis of (their) identity, that’s not what this is about. For us, it is about hiring staff in accordance with the beliefs of our schools,” she said.

“What we want to continue doing is teaching our beliefs, and to continue hiring teachers that share in (our) beliefs as well.”

Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Keysar Trad. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Anglican Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead said the religious discrimination bill had been “held hostage” over concerns about a clause in the Sex Discrimination Act relating to schools discriminating against gay and trans students. “We are deeply disappointed that the passage of the bill has been stalled,” Dr Stead said.

“People of faith have been waiting for this since 2018, and there seems to be broad agreement on both sides of the house that legal protection against discrimination on the basis of ­religious belief is necessary and long overdue.

“It is regrettable that the passage of the religious discrimination bill – which is about religious discrimination, and religious discrimination only – is being held hostage to rushed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act relating to students.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry chief Peter Wertheim said it was better for the package to be delayed rather than killed off completely.

“Although the shelving of the bill will disappoint many faith communities … this issue is too important to the future of our country to be held hostage to an arbitrary electoral timetable.”