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Associate Professor Neil Foster
The Australian Law Reform Commission has now released a Consultation Paper for its current reference on “Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws”. The paper, while formally acknowledging the importance of religious freedom and parental rights, will be a serious disappointment to those involved in religious schools and colleges. It effectively recommends the removal of protections enjoyed by religious educational institutions which have been designed to safeguard the ability of these organisations to operate in accordance with their religious beliefs.
Freedom for Faith
A Statement from Bishop Michael Stead, Chair of Freedom for Faith All Australians should be deeply shocked at the discriminatory treatment of Andrew Thorburn. According to press reports Thorburn has been forced to resign one...
Associate Professor Neil Foster

ACT Discrimination Law Reforms Narrow Religious Freedom

Associate Professor Neil Foster
Jun 27, 2022
The Australian Capital Territory government has released an Exposure Draft of a Bill to amend that jurisdiction’s Discrimination Act 1991 (“DA”). They have invited public comment by 1 July 2022. As key protections for religious...
Associate Professor Neil Foster

Government amendments to Religious Discrimination bills

Associate Professor Neil Foster
Feb 9, 2022
Debate in the House of Representatives in the Federal Parliament resumed today on the package of bills dealing with religious discrimination. (For general background, see my initial post on the bills here, and recent update...
Associate Professor Neil Foster
Current press reports suggest that the Federal Government is contemplating a change to the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 which allow religious schools to operate in accordance with their religious commitments, in the...
Associate Professor Neil Foster

Victorian Religious Exceptions Amendment Bill introduced

Associate Professor Neil Foster
Oct 29, 2021
As previously foreshadowed (see my analysis of the proposals when first announced here) the Victorian government has introduced a Bill into the Parliament of that State seriously limiting the religious freedom of religious bodies and...