A proposed overhaul of Victoria’s hate laws has provoked a backlash from Church leaders and faith-based groups who fear the reforms will erode protections for religious freedom. Source: The Age.
The Allan Government is also facing opposition from women’s rights groups concerned that the proposed new laws – in which existing protections for racial and religious vilification are expanded to cover a broad range of personal attributes, including gender identity – will be weaponised by activists.
The original architect of the reforms, former independent MP Fiona Patten, dismissed these objections. She said the new laws would give women, girls, people living with disabilities and LGBTQI people overdue protection from abuse.
If supported in its current form, the omnibus legislation – the Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification) Bill – would radically redraw the state’s anti-vilification framework.
Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli said while the Church “abhors vilification of any kind”, it was concerned that proposed changes to the “religious purpose” exemption currently in place, combined with the lowered legal threshold for vilification, could erode freedom of religious expression.
Archbishop Comensoli met with Attorney General Jaclyn Symes last week to express the Church’s concerns.
“Attempts to lower the threshold of what constitutes vilification must not stifle genuine discussion and acts done in good faith, particularly the sharing of religious beliefs by people of faith,” he said.
“The current proposals include highly subjective elements that risk limiting legitimate religious speech while the religious purposes defence is not sufficiently clear.”
Ms Symes has sought to assure faith leaders that communications done in genuine, good-faith observance of religious practice would be exempt from civil complaints and criminal prosecution.
“These laws will appropriately reflect the seriousness of incitements and threats made against all Victorians better than the current acts,” she said. “Freedom of expression is important, but this must be balanced with the vital right for Victorians to be safe in public life and that’s what our laws will aim to balance.”
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Allan government faces showdown with faith groups over hate laws (By Chip Le Grand, The Age)
