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Church proposal seeks to address concerns with discrimination bill
Catholic Church leaders have put forward a proposal to the Albanese Government to address concerns about its draft religious discrimination laws, warning that as the legislation stands faith groups “would go a long way backwards”. Source: The Australian.
Dutton calls hate speech move ‘a trap’ as discrimination talks falter
Labor’s hopes of passing two key bills with bipartisan support have taken a hit with a breakdown in negotiations on religious discrimination and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, labelling its hate speech proposal a “trap”. Source: The Guardian.
Pakistan bishop denounces anti-Christian violence as ‘dark day’
An attack on Christians in north-central Pakistan by an enraged Muslim mob, who accused a Christian man of having defaced the Koran, represents a “dark day” for the country’s Christian community, Pakistan’s top Catholic official has said. Source: Crux.
Government drafts hate speech bill to protect against vilification
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is drafting new hate speech laws that will impose criminal penalties for serious instances of vilification based on a person’s race, sexuality, gender, disability or religion. Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Laws must protect religious freedom: ex-PM Howard
Former Prime Minister John Howard has defended the right of faith-based schools to hire staff who share the same religious beliefs and values as “common sense”, saying that it should be respected in any new legislation affecting religious freedoms. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Archbishop pens letter on religious freedom
Hobart Archbishop Julian Porteous has written a pastoral letter to the faithful of Tasmania expressing concern over threats to religious freedom posed by “certain ideological positions” imposed “by means of legislation”. Source: Hobart Archdiocese.
Faith is under attack, says federal coalition
Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over religious discrimination laws with parents and teachers declaring the proposed changes an attack on faith-based schools. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Tasmanian Catholics unite against changes to religious freedom laws
Catholic Education Tasmania has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging him not to “enact laws that will divide us over religion”. Source: The Australian.
State plays down concern over discrimination act changes
The Queensland Government has played down claims its changes to anti-discrimination legislation will be the most restrictive in the nation amid a threat it could become an election issue. Source: Courier-Mail.