I think we need to actually acknowledge that we have already been conquered. We are already living under a theocratic regime. It's no longer a case of "we have to stop them from taking over", it's now true that we are The Rebels.

Is anyone preparing for this to go to the high court?

Carn Cashie. There are more non-religious voters by the day.

Why is she hiding the identity of some of the groups or indviduals she has "consulted"?

The Gods look down on us.

So an anti discrimination bill that will allow a select few to discriminate, excellent.

Using the excuse “because my invisible friend said I can” doesn’t really hold much

Would we allow a Sharia Law Lobby Group to have media space and air time in Australia? What's the difference? No, really, I mean it, seriously, what's the difference between a Sharia Law Lobby Group and the Australian Christian Lobby?

As always, religious freedom means the freedom to impose your religion on everyone else.

Isn't it odd we can't see these groups fighting tooth and nail like this to defend the victims of sexual abuse.

If one signs a contract one should abide by the contract.

I have a social media clause in my work contract. No one should be exempt because of religion.

If Australia had constitutionally protected free speech then this kind of thing wouldn’t be necessary. Though i am against the wider Bill, I’m in favour of anything that protects a persons rights to express an opinion, including ‘statements of faith’.

If there was any doubt that the christian lobby had nefarious motives…here you go. Christians hate gays! I don’t care how they try to sugar coat it.

All religious businesses have talk about escaping prejudice ie the Pilgrams. But really they were escaping as Gore Vidal said "to prejudice against others"

i think you mean the 'religious privelege' laws.

Disgusting people.

The Christian Lobby should devour their own faecal matter, instead of force feeding it to others. Pull your heads in you bunch of delusional gaslighting maggots

The ACL should be listed as a terrorist organisation.

So Folau can make a statement of faith that he wants all gays to burn in agony for eternity. And that's OK. If I say I want to set a gay on fire, suddenly I'm a psychotic criminal. I don't see the difference.

Australia is a secular nation. The ACL has no business meddling in government policy and the government should not pander to them. Imagine if this was Muslims and trying to get the government to mandate sharia. The people would be outraged

As long as this is extended to all religions & not just his… Hail Satan.

Say your countries about to become a theocracy, without saying your countries about to become a theocracy.

Tax the bastards

They should include a picture of these two in the dictionary to define the word “dickhead”

Given their death rate Vs ours, they can keep their "freedom".

She's right in a way (minus the invasion part). With surveillance laws, and our lack of a bill of rights, and with jounalists getting arrested for being journalists and and and I'd say we are headed in a bad direction.

Fantastic idea - i wish she was serious.

Let them have Queensland, they'll feel at home there.

Most Americans wouldn't even know where Australia was on a world map!!🙄🤦‍♂️

Yes, because the US has such a wonderful history of doing that don't they🙄

Just think. That embarrassment will follow her the rest of her days.

Didn’t know we had oil..

She is right in that we do have a government with very conservative, unchallengeable laws and punishments like no other country on the planet… but we don’t need freeing (thanks for the offer!). I’ve traveled around the world a bit and I can tell you from my experience, we are easily the most controlled people I’ve encountered. Driving to StKilda and back to Northcote is only about 15km, and in that stretch I pass through 12 red light/speed cameras and about 20 speed changes. Each camera will take a day’s wage even if you’re driving safely and sensibly to the conditions. I see at least 2-3 flashes a day when I pass through, and in over 30 years of driving Punt Rd I’ve never seen one serious accident during the day. There should be cheap (still annoying) fines during the day and serious fines at night when it is dangerous. That would be sensible, but do you think that’s going to happen with the conservative types that are selected into control? No way. How did we let this ridiculousness happen? How do we change it to something fair? I shouldn’t feel anxious driving

She'd be better off fighting for body autonomy for Texan women!!!🤦‍♀️

Please don't invade, we don't have any oil so we don't need your 'liberty'.

America doesn't need to free the whole of oz, just Victoria from Dan Andrews!

People like her only have relevance because we give it to her. She's been nowhere and achieved nothing. Don't give her the oxygen.

Not a great article to share. She was clearly being facetious and even stated as such immediately afterwards. No mention of that in the article, instead it presents her actual opinion as one that actually wants to “invade” Australia. I expect as much from the Guardian. I expected more from this group.

I traveled extensively over a 40+ year career, and never visited a country that could offer me a better life than I have here. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. ❤️❤️❤️

I’ll be sure to remind them when they arrive of our freedom from fear of being shot by your toddler at any moment

But according to a large number of Americans, we don't actually exist . So how can they invade . . . . 🤣

It literally says "of course I say that in jest" in the article... Don't share Guardian articles, they take everything out of context and try and pass it as "news".

Come on, you're better than this. It was a joke.

Please send help asap!! I just got back from a bike ride to the brewery for beers and brisket. It's insane here!!

I wish she would keep her opinions to herself. Because bet your bottom dollar, we ain't going out without one hell of a fight.

We don't have any oil...so they won't try and give is liberty

i volunteer queensland as tribute

I think it's a great idea

So they are taking a stand against the way we treat refugees? I'm ok with that.

Absurd. Reading this article anything can be called a religion. People have made up through the ages and still make up religions to control and exploit the people. Faith is not dynamic it's an illusion.

When religion starts to become more extreme and has no tolerance of other practices it means that it is dying because people will not accept such a backward belief. Christians jews and Muslim’s all seem to be reverting back to original 2000 year old prejudices against gay lesbian and atheists. It’s always been there but it’s becoming more hostile again. Also attacks against women’s rights which have been hard won face rollback by frightened paternalistic men who decry equity in society. We must stand our ground against those that want to drag back humanity 2000 years to a world of slavery, illiteracy and no knowledge of scientific advancement.

An uncharacteristically ridiculous article from the ABC. As for "God concepts and ancestor spirits therefore make sense to us because they fit neatly into that cognitive gap".... I reckon scientific evidence derived through use of the scientific method did a good enough job of filling my 'cognitive gap' (along with millions of other scientists around the world).

There is a quote in here that literally draws a parallel between being irreligious and being criminal, and goes on to say "it's kind of the same thing, it's risk-taking, it's short-sighted behaviour". Not counteracted in any way, just presented as part of the 'analysis'. Not cool.

“…what we typically recognise as the tenets of religion, for example the belief in a higher order and the acceptance of unquestioned faith, are similar to those shared by many social and political movements”. I would hope not! And that the reason people engage in social/political movements is precisely because they’re not based on blind faith!

Most tick NO RELIGION cos there sick of the power and exploitation of religion. And as we dont have seperation of State and church in this country. But Yep couldnt get more desperate than be coming a pagan. Lol

I think organised religion is on the way out slowly but other culty crap is rising up in it's place. Conspiracies and cultural extremes for example that aren't concerned with a diety but are concerned with filling the void in people's hearts left by that diety are more popular than ever. God is dead, but his morality lives on.

Most humans are the opposite of clever, and will be gullible and closed minded throughout their entire lives, and that will always be true, until we are extinct.

So if the religion doesn't fit the times then it's out with the old in with the new. Makes sense

Well the amount of atheist and non believers are def going up which is good more people to think for themselves and not think there’s a being judging them on their every move

As Dawkins once remarked, blasphemy is a victimless crime

Well considering how many progressive movements are acting I'd say they are the new religion. 🤔

Who cares life's to short

Kay Clarke I know some people for whom anti science and food fanaticism are pursued with the blind enthusiasm of newly minted protestants.

Climate change has become a earth mother religion. Protestors are over the top, think extinction Rebellion and radical vegans raiding business, or the ads from WWF seeking money to save the koalas or pols Bears , yeah right. Gods dead, mother Earth Springs forth.