Same-sex marriage: Scott Morrison calls for religious freedoms

Scott Morrison says a failure to shield religious freedoms would undermine democracy.

Scott Morrison addresses the parliament yesterday. Picture: Kym Smith

Scott Morrison has launched an assault on Labor, arguing that ­religious safeguards must be ­included in a bill to legalise same-sex marriage and supported by Opposition MPs from No-voting electorates in Western Sydney.

Repositioning himself as the conservative champion of religious protections, the Treasurer used a speech on the floor of ­parliament to warn that a failure to include safeguards would ignore the underpinnings of Australia’s system of liberal democracy and its modern multicultural society.

As revealed by The Australian, Mr Morrison confirmed he was leading a group of Coalition MPs in upholding religious protections by supporting an amendment ­ensuring faith-based organisations are unable to lose their charitable status for maintaining a belief in traditional marriage.

Other Coalition MPs will move amendments this week to provide an “anti-detriment” shield to ­defenders of traditional marriage, strengthen parental rights and amend the Sex Discrimination Act.

The speech from Mr Morrison came after Labor’s legal affairs spokesman, Mark Dreyfus, indicated Labor MPs would not seek to support any changes to the bill, ­declaring that it already contained adequate religious protections.

“There is no need for further amendments,” Mr Dreyfus said.

Bill Shorten also said there was nothing in the legislation that ­limited the “right of any person to lawfully worship” and was instead aimed at “extending equality, not reducing liberty.”

But Mr Morrison said the bill was flawed and parliament had a responsibility to ensure same-sex marriage was not used as a ­“weapon against the importance of faith, belief and religion in our society.” “Separation of church and state was set up to protect the church from the state, not the other way around. To protect ­religious freedoms,” he said.

Turning the heat on to Mr Shorten, Mr Morrison said nine out of the top 10 electorates that voted No in the postal survey were held by Labor MPs and compromised “vibrant faith-based communities.” “To pretend this bill is whole and satisfies their concerns is to confirm a lack of understanding and empathy for those who hold them,” he said.

“I would urge all of these Labor members to be freed up, released from any constraint, that would enable them to stand with their constituents now in supporting amendments that deliver the protections of religious freedoms that are currently absent from this bill.”

The comments brought Mr Morrison into conflict with ­Malcolm Turnbull, who used his speech to argue the bill proposed by West Australian Liberal senator Dean Smith did not propose any challenge to freedom of religion. “I do not believe that the bill threatens our cherished religious freedoms,” the Prime Minister said. “There is nothing in the bill, for example, which prevents anyone from maintaining or adhering to the teaching of their church on marriage or morality.”

Mr Turnbull said he would ­support “several amendments” to the bill, but indicated he would do so in recognition of the “sincere, heartfelt anxiety about the bill’s impact on religious freedom.”

He told the parliament he was not supporting same-sex marriage despite being conservative, but ­because he was a conservative. “This is an issue of fundamental fairness. A society which promotes freedom and equality under the law should accord gay men and women the right to marry.”