Reprieve for religious freedom but threats remain ahead

Strong campaigning by the community and the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition has forced Labor to back off for the time being from its agenda of curtailing freedom of religion, Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark said today.

“However, the devil will be in the details of its legislation and in what further changes Labor intends to make if re-elected next year,” Mr Clark said.

“The government’s announcement that it will retain some key aspects of religious freedom in Victorian equal opportunity legislation is a pre-election reprieve from Labor’s attempt to prevent faith-based schools and welfare bodies from employing staff and adopting policies that uphold their values.

“However, it is clear that many affiliated with government want further changes to be made in future.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the government’s Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Ms Helen Szoke, is reported as saying the government’s announcement of restrictions on the existing exemptions is “a good step” but that “a whole section of the community is still left out”.

“Ms Szoke’s remarks are a clear signal that there will be a continuing move within government for further changes if Labor is re-elected at next year’s State election,” Mr Clark said.

“The Opposition believes that freedom of religion is fundamental to Victoria’s open, welcoming and multicultural community, and that any changes that attack people’s freedom of religion are a threat to these vital community values.

“We will decide our position on the legislation once we have seen it. It will be particularly important to see what unannounced restrictions the government may have included, such as what it will require a faith-based organisation to be able to prove, and whether it will end up with the courts being called on to decide questions about religious beliefs,” Mr Clark said.

“It is extraordinary that Attorney-General, Rob Hulls, chose to make the announcement in the media on the day following the Grand Final to pre-empt the findings of an inquiry by the all-party Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee of the Parliament, which the government itself commissioned in December last year. The Committee is expected to table its report soon, following extensive public hearings and submissions.

“This inquiry was commissioned following a previous secret internal review of equal opportunity exemptions and exceptions undertaken by the Department of Justice at the direction of Attorney-General,” Mr Clark said.