Queensland Liberal senator Paul Scarr says the religious freedom debate in Australia is more than just a political issue. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Senator Scarr said he does not believe religious freedom should be a “partisan issue”.
“It comes back to the inherent dignity of each and every human being.”
Anti-discrimination laws are back in the conversation as the nation grapples with its changing relationship with religion.
Federal and state governments are looking at how religious organisations operate against a backdrop of competing rights.
Supporters say the laws would protect marginalised members of society from unnecessary discrimination, while faith groups fight to run their religious organisations according to their own religious beliefs.
Last month, the Coalition called on Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to end a stalemate over the Albanese Government’s draft religious discrimination laws and to redraft the legislation with feedback from faith groups.
Mr Dreyfus said the Coalition must deliver a “line-by-line” response to the draft legislation in order for the laws to progress.
He said the Government was looking “to give protections to staff and students in religious schools and protections to people of faith”.
Senator Scarr said freedom of religion was a fundamental tenet of Australian life and the proposed amendments put it under threat.
He said schools would be especially affected, saying the changes would mean “religion starts and ends with religious instruction classes”.
Senator Scarr admitted these were difficult issues to work through and said there were “good people on both sides of politics who care deeply about these issues as I do”.
“But where the current (federal) Government has lost its way is attempting to keep the debate behind closed doors,” he said.
“In particular, not releasing the draft legislation to public scrutiny.”
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Religious freedoms a core part of Australian life, Queensland Senator says (By Michael Howard, The Catholic Leader)
