Religious Freedom Bill

The proposed Religious Freedom Bill will enable organisations and individuals to discriminate in accordance with their religious beliefs.

The bill does not protect freedoms, but grants religious belief undeserved, unnecessary, and outrageous privileges.

The Atheist Foundation of Australia opposes the Religious Freedom Bill and will fight to protect the rights of all Australians.

Read our Submission

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Religious Freedom Bill Submission

Religious Discrimination Bill – Second Exposure Draft Date: 19 January 2020 Submission type: Non-Profit – Atheist Foundation Of Australia and Sydney Atheists Email: [email protected] Confidentiality: For Public Release The Atheist Foundation of...

Submission to the Australian Bureau of Statistics – Review of 2021 Census Topics

The question on religion in the Australian Census contains an element which is problematical in obtaining accurate figures. The problem is that it asks “What is the person’s religion?” This is a leading question and can elicit a religion of baptism when the person may...

Submission to the Queensland Law Reform Commission Review of Termination of Pregnancy Laws

February 2018 In line with the recommendations of groups such as the Queensland Branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMAQ), Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the Queensland Nurses Union, the Health...

Non-believers now Australia's largest religious group: Time to listen to what we want

What is the role of the godless in Australia’s current social and political climate? What level of influence should the the non-religious have in Australia’s version of secularism? The Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) is calling for a national discussion on these...

Religious Freedom Review Panel Submission

Religious Freedom Review, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Parliament House, Canberra. Submission: Copies to all members of the Review Panel and PMC Secretariat: To whom it may concern, The Australian Law Reform Commission interim report 127 has previously...

Politicians cannot hide from fact any more regarding voluntary assisted dying

The Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) supports the two Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Bills before state Parliaments in NSW and Victoria. This is an important demonstration of evidence-based medical opinion and indisputable patient need triumphing over...

Richard Dawkins and Ben Goldacre in Melbourne for Reason to Hope

The Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) is excited to announce that evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, and Ben Goldacre, best-selling author of Bad Science and Bad Pharma, will speak at the 2018 Global Atheist Convention, Reason to Hope. “We are delighted...

Non-believers by far Australia's largest single 'religious' group: Now give us the recognition we deserve

The godless in Australia say enough is enough. After today’s release of Census data showing that non-believers make up 30.1% of the population – easily overtaking the previously-highest response “Catholic” for the first time in Census history – the Atheist Foundation...

Tracey Spicer and Clementine Ford to speak at 2018 Global Atheist Convention; Tickets now on sale

The Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) is excited to announced that Tracey Spicer – journalist and author of The Good Girl Stripped Bare – and prominent feminist writer Clementine Ford will speak at the 2018 Global Atheist Convention, Reason to Hope. "We are...

Ayaan Hirsi Ali withdraws from 2018 Global Atheist Convention; New speakers announced

The Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) is disappointed to advise that Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of Heretic and Infidel, has withdrawn from the 2018 Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne. However, MCs for the event - the largest gathering of its kind in the southern...

Our Philosophy

The Atheist Foundation of Australia recognises the scientific method as the only rational means toward understanding reality. To question and critically examine all ideas, testing them in the light of experiment, leads to the discovery of facts.

As there seems to be no scientific evidence for supernatural phenomena, atheists reject belief in ‘God’, gods, and other supernatural beings. The universe, the world in which we live, and the evolution of life seem to be entirely natural occurrences.

No personality or mind can exist without the process of living matter to sustain it. We have only one life – here and now. All that remains after a person dies is the memory of their life and deeds in the minds of those who remain.

Atheists reject superstition and prejudice along with the irrational fears they cause. We recognise the complexity and interdependence of life on this planet. As rational and ethical beings we accept the challenge of making a creative and responsible contribution to life.

Atheist Foundation of Australia

Our Aims

To encourage and to provide a means of expression for informed free-thought on philosophical and social issues.
To safeguard the rights of all non-religious people.
To serve as a focal point for the community of non-religious people.
To offer verifiable information in place of superstition and to promote logic and reason.
To promote atheism.

Become a Member Make a Contribution

I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.

Richard Dawkins

I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish (Muslim) Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any Church that I know of. My own mind is my own Church.

Thomas Paine

To sum up:
1. The cosmos is a gigantic flywheel making 10,000 revolutions a minute.
2. Man is a sick fly taking a dizzy ride on it.
3. Religion is the theory that the wheel was designed and set spinning to give him a ride.

H. L. Mencken

The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.

Delo McKown

It is usually when men are at their most religious that they behave with the least sense and the greatest cruelty.

Ilka Chase

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Can we just keep the statement of belief stuff? That is literally a protection of speech. That part sounds good to me. George Brandis wasn't right about much, but people do have the right to be bigots (without being punished by the law).

If it's legit and it passes, the whole family is getting baptised to Satan so we can be horrible to anyone who tries to use this bill to suppress or harm innocent folks. Fighting fire with Hellfire

The problem is, most right minded people won't go out of their way to do all this - because they aren't bad people. Regardless of which religion they are, it just allows the bad people of that religion to be even worse...

The article says that you couldn't refuse to hire a Christian because of there beliefs but can't a chatholic school refuse to hire a Anglican teacher? Doesn't the bill say if a religious organisation can refuse to hire someone if they don't follow the sincerely held beliefs. I would think the acknowledgement of the leader of the religion would count as not following the sincerely held beliefs of a Catholic school. Or am I reading the bill wrong

except, the Religious discrimination bill protects those with deeply held beliefs. Atheism is not a belief system, just the disbelief there is a god/s. So for that reason, the author of this article wrongly used Atheism as an example

Does it get any more ironic for the Godbots than to remind them of the golden rule... Or as they phrase it: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

You know regardless of our stance on abortion, it's undeniable that some people find it an abhorent and unforgiveable thing to do. By denying this bill we're telling a doctor ''I will make you do what you feel is murdering a child and threaten you will the power of the law if you don't'', that's a disgusting way to treat another person. As a country do we really want to be doing that to another human just so a patient doesn't need to search a bit more for a clinic who will do it? Is Australia legitimately crazy now or what?

Bad luck Scotty from marketing! 🤣🤣🤣

The point re not hiring Christians or people of other faiths is one l have been making for sometime. And dressed up exactly as the article states.

Scammo said this was the 'final' draft but there'll be further consultation!

Great example of why religion and politics should be seperated...

Still don't believe this. It's more likely a bit of PR "leaked" out to one of Scotty from marketing's mates so we all just let it pass. Marketing at work.

I've said from the beginning that it'll backfire. The whole thing is too slippery to put in the box they want it in.

‘I believe religious people effed in the head’ - that sort of thing?

The problem is that yes, atheist or Buddhist or Muslim folks could do these things under this legislation. But as Christians are still a majority in this country, it's far less likely to affect them the way that this article is suggesting it will.

And how much are we spending on this fiasco? We didn’t ask for it, we don’t need it ... bye bye

Psalm 7:16 says "The trouble they make for others backfires on them."

Ace! I can now go out and round up a few christians to feed to the lions! Waddayareckon Steve Matthews

Hurry up and bring it in. I'm gonna have so much fun with the bible bashers

Yep, be careful what you wish for.....

Just trying to manipulate Aussie culture forthewhim of few

Irony is a beautiful word

Australia is getting toasted so our leader goes to Hawaii then brings up this mindless shit.

See what happens when you try to legislate unkindness

Awesome article SMH

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No Bill should give anyone the right to discriminate against any other person. It is highly offensive and wrong on all levels.

A religion is also regarded as "a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion", so by that definition, Atheism could be regarded as a religion. If you want to keep practicing Atheism, the Religious Freedom Bill will let you.

As long as it’s possible to be fired from your job for holding a religious point of view, then this bill is necessary.

Well there’s a nice example of hypocrisy. You support the rights of people by opposing their religious freedom. The public have been dumbed down a lot, but I don’t think they are that stupid, yet. Go away, the public don’t need your bigotry.

Disagree. It's along the same lines as freedom of speech. And why should I have to forego my beliefs because you say so? Religious hospitals already accept everyone. It's their mission. That is, religion teaches compassion to ALL. In fact, your position will result in the opposite of what you seek. Not all change is for the better; in fact, if you look at the world today compared to when I was young, I can tell you folk were much happier, more secure and better educated. I am very very sad that this has deteriorated, and I wish that young people today could have the happy childhood I had. You are not going to get my vote.

this bill discriminates against those who are not religious. We all have a right to our own beliefs, we dont need governments telling us we dont have the right to think

The comments of some religious people clearly demonstrate that this is a most dangerous bill.

Sick to death of people discriminating against people who don't believe in invisible people!

I am not a practising Christian, but I don't believe in the vilification of people because of their religious beliefs. I am afraid that there are people who treat their athieism as a religion and wish to discriminate against others for their religious beliefs.

Then there needs to be a requirement that all businesses that use this bill for discrimination, display prominently out front of their place of business what they discriminate against so I can make any informed choice on where I spend my money

Freedom of association is a fundamental human right. This means the right to not associate with someone.

They don't want freedom, they want privilege.

They are discriminating against all Christians by not paying their fair share of tax

Let your Federal Rep know how you feel - write letters!!!

True religion, based on the God of the Bible, always promotes freedom & exalts a nation. But the problem is many unbelieving people want "freedom" to sin, & that always brings oppression & disgrace. Jesus Christ is & always will be the answer & His morality always results in true freedom.

I cannot believe how many people I talk to that have no idea this is happening

Just TAX them like EVERYONE else. Then we can talk about "other" stuff. Until that day comes,they should be grateful for the tolerance, non religious Australians afford them & S.T.F.U.

It is really odd that the act will allow the religious to refuse to accept employees, patrons, patients etc because they are in conflict with their beliefs. I fail to see how that is preventing discrimination. I as far as I can see it looks like religious groups can discriminate against each other and anyone else in a way not available to other Australians .

The protests in Melbourne over the bill didn't get much media attention unfortunately.

Quaker here. I oppose this Bill. I might be religious but I don't support any attempt to let people discriminate against others and cover it up by saying "but my religion says!"

Why does anyone have to worry about being offended :( Sticks and stones!

If it goes through, I think that they will very quickly get tangled in unforeseen issues of rights demanded by various religions that can’t be granted without breaking secular laws.

Scomo really want this bill he wants everyone to follow his religion or be discriminated against .If this passes it’s going to give him the right to destroy any other religion or non religion he doesn’t agree with .Its starting to sound a bit like Hitler don’t believe in the same as me the gas chambers are waiting for you .Come on people stop being led to the slaughter house thinking they are looking out for .

stupidity, religions should not and do not deserve special privileges or to be protected in any way shape or form, as they have more deaths, discrimination, rapes, abuse and so forth on their conscience than any other type of ideology or concepts that has ever been thought of, or invented.

The bill is illegal. The constitution clearly prescribes the law on religion. It states that "no religious test ought to be sought" and what that means is that religion is a moot issue in the Commonwealth of Australia and that parliament and the people of the Commonwealth cannot make any laws for the control or protection of religion in any way shape or form. This is also the loophole that religion itself uses to not pay any tax because the issue of religion is moot.

The “culture” of St Kevin’s is determined by the Catholic Church. The main culture of the Catholic Church is to cover things up: a ‘We can do no wrong. We a perfect. God is on our side’ sort of thing. Nothing can be said against a powerful representative of the church. This has been drummed into the people who run these schools. They, in turn, are run by fear of making the church look bad. So they do anything to cover it up. What brilliant “Christian values” the Catholic Church encourages. It’s all bullshit.

Grooming of a boy by s teacher in a Catholic school, never

It's refreshing to see a politician stand for what is right. This Bill is divisive and judgmental. Good on you, Andrew.

Depends on what is meant by rights, no one has; a right not to be offended, a right to a job, a right to an employee, a right to be a client, a right to a client

Nothing should over rule human rights. THE END.

Just drop the whole religious bullshit it's 2020 . Science has proven evelution and the big bang , religion is just a bunch of fairy tales. Come on people grow up