Discrimination Act a divisive, grave mistake

The debating of the Religious Discrimination Act just shows why we need to keep church and state separate, writes John Short.

NORMALLY on Sunday mornings you will find me at the Anglican cathedral in Hobart at 8am, not every week but most Sundays.

I am a person of faith, but I don’t make a big deal of it.

Sunday mornings at church, for me, are a quiet time of personal reflection.

It’s the only time my mobile phone is ever switched off; of course, after I have checked in on the cathedral’s QR code.

I really appreciate this time, the church, and its parishioners. While it’s a very old church, some would say it has quite progressive views.

The first three times I attended, the sermons were about the power of the church and how it should be used wisely.

The second was about First Nations people and needing to acknowledge how they’ve been treated and the damage we have done since colonisation.

The third was about climate change and the damage that is being done to the Earth and as custodians what we need to do protect the environment.

As you could imagine, as someone from the progressive side of politics this church was the right fit for me.

Lovely people, good values, and a great Dean in Richard Humphrey. In all of my time as a practising Christian and a person of faith, I have never felt discriminated or threatened or pressured about that faith.

Many people I know, know of my faith; for just as many, this article may be a bit of a surprise.

As a senior trade union leader within Tasmania, some people might see it as a contradiction: trade unionist and person of faith.

But I find it very comfortable.

To me, Christ is a compassionate, caring, forgiving and generous person who was not concerned with who you were, where you came from, or even what religion you were. He was perhaps a bit of a socialist or left-leaning, although I’m sure some will disagree with the last part of that.

So it is with great concern I see the Religious Discrimination Act that is being debated in parliament.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos APRIL 30 2021: Parliament House, Hobart Waterfront, Tasmania. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Richard Jupe

I don’t even think this is necessary. I have never, ever felt discriminated against because of my faith, don’t push my faith on others, and they don’t try to talk me out of it.

I have spent most of my working life and union career fighting against discrimination, segregation and injustice. Personally, I don’t see any religious divisions in our society.

The old sectarianism separating Catholic from Protestant, and anti-Semitism are generally things of the past.

Apart from some anti-Islamic sentiment, which has become more prominent over the past decade or so.

The legislation that is being pushed by the present federal government is simply a measure to further divide our society.

If Scott Morrison’s proposed legislation is enacted, it will not only create division and put in place artificial barriers that are not there at present, but give church activities preference over others within our society. These proposed laws to make discrimination lawful if expressed by a religious organisation will allow and even encourage discrimination, humiliation, harassment and general nastiness in the name of religion.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JANUARY 20, 2022: Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Paul Kelly and Lieutenant-General John Frewen hold a press conference at Parliament House, Canberra. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The majority of those who are spiritual and religious would not support this or like this to happen.

If our faith is strong enough, we shouldn’t need this preferential treatment, we shouldn’t allow this legislation to stand, as it will divide communities even further – and one thing we know, due to Covid, is that we need to work together and not be divided.

Jesus Christ was humble, caring and compassionate, he never discriminated or excluded anyone – lepers, the poor, the excluded, people of questionable character, even tax collectors.

This is nothing new for this government.

We need to keep church and state separate, so that everyone is treated the same regardless of what family you come from, where you are born and what religion or faith you practise.

It is time for those of us who profess a faith to say that these unjust laws will do the opposite of what is intended.

We need to let Morrison, MPs and senators know that we do not support them, and that we stand for the dignity of all.

John Short is the state secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Tasmania

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