8 votes

Australian government releases "exposure draft" of religious discrimination bill

Posted by Algernon_Asimov
Tags: religion, australia, legal, politics, law, discrimination, rights.religious

A news article: New protections for Folau-like cases in draft religious discrimination bill

A radio interview with the Attorney-General: Federal Government unveils religious discrimination legislation on Radio National

Some legal analysis: The government has released its draft religious discrimination bill. How will it work?

A Christian response: Religious discrimination bill draft released

2 comments

  1. [2]
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    1. Algernon_Asimov
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      But what if the beliefs themselves are not reasonable? A high-profile recent case here in Australia involved a rugby player posting on Instagram that gays and other sinners will go to Hell. Is...

      But what if the beliefs themselves are not reasonable?

      A high-profile recent case here in Australia involved a rugby player posting on Instagram that gays and other sinners will go to Hell. Is that expressing his belief in a reasonable manner? Is that a reasonable belief to express?

      What if someone says that gay sex is an abomination? Is that expressing their belief in a reasonable manner? Is that a reasonable belief to express?

      What if someone says that gay people are abominations? Is that expressing their belief in a reasonable manner? Is that a reasonable belief to express?

      What if someone says that gay people should die of AIDS because that's God's punishment for their homosexuality? Is that expressing their belief in a reasonable manner? Is that a reasonable belief to express?

      There's not much about Christianity's or Islam's or Judaism's beliefs regarding homosexuality which is reasonable.

      2 votes
  2. cfabbro
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    So it seems that like most of these recent Religious person "protection" laws being passed in various countries, this isn't so much about protecting them discrimination as it is stopping them from...

    A code of conduct prohibiting employees from making offensive comments on social media outside of work could therefore be unlawful discrimination.

    Second, there is a provision in section 8(5) allowing conscientious objections by health practitioners.

    This means that where a health practitioner is required by their employer to provide a service to which they object on religious grounds, this requirement will likely be unreasonable – and therefore discriminatory.

    This could allow individual doctors to refuse to perform a wide range of services on religious grounds, including abortion, assisted suicide and procedures for transgender patients.

    Third, despite Porter previously stating that the Religious Discrimination Bill was not intended to override state laws, it does just that.

    So it seems that like most of these recent Religious person "protection" laws being passed in various countries, this isn't so much about protecting them discrimination as it is stopping them from facing any consequences for their discrimination against other. Fun times we live in. :/