VIC - Religious exceptions restricted!

STATUS - 16 April 2010 - Bill PASSED by the Victorian parliament.

UPDATE:
It was a very sad day for freedom of speech and freedom of religion in Victoria when the Victorian parliament's Legislative Council passed the controversial Equal Opportunity Bill on Thursday 15 April, 2010. The Bill had previously been passed by the Legislative Assembly and will now become law.

All Members of the Liberal and National Parties voted against the Bill, along with Peter Kavanagh of the Democratic Labor Party.

We congratulate them for their stand for freedom.

There were some fine speeches - including those from Peter kavanagh and Liberals Inga Peulich and Bernie Finn.

All three Greens and all Labor Members voted for the Bill.

Click here to read the Hansard of Thursday's debate and vote. The vote was 22 to 18. The vote is on Page 1435.

The Liberals have now committed, in a meeting with the Australian Christian Lobby, to repeal these draconian priovisions if they are elected in November.

---

The Campaign

The Victorian Labor government has put legislation into the Parliament, on 10 March 2010, that would severely restrict religious freedom and give MORE POWER to the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

UPDATE: The Bill was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 25 March 2010.
It goes to the Legislative Council two weeks from that date (this will be from 13 April 2010).

The legislation, the Equal Opportunity Bill 2010, removes many of the exemptions for churches in areas such as age, race etc.

The right to discriminate on grounds such as marital status, sexuality and gender have been retained.

HOWEVER, if passed, the new law will require that religious bodies and schools PROVE why it is 'reasonably necessary' for them to discriminate in these areas in order to adhere to the doctrines of their faith. This will result in numerous complaints and cases at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

In the area of employment it is even worse . . .
Religious bodies and schools will be required to prove that it is an 'inherent requirement' of the job for the employee to be of that faith, to not be homosexual etc. This would apply to 'maths teachers', for instance, on the basis the government thinks a maths teacher in a Christian school doesn't need to be a Christian!

That's nonsense!
One just has to compare the exemption granted to political parties - THEY don't have to employ anyone from a competing political party!

The second major objection to the Bill is the new sweeping powers it gives to the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission - they would have the power to launch their OWN INVESTIGATIONS ... even when a complaint hasn't been made!

The Commission would also be given the power to investigate businesses and organisations - compelling them to hand over documents and to attend hearings!
See Bill page 108 - part 9.

The Legislation

Equal Opportunity Bill 2010 (176 pages) (Now an Act)

Statement of Compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities:
See Hansard 10 March, 2010 - Page 764.

Second Reading on 10 March 2010.

Second reading speech by Mr Hulls:
Hansard – click here - Wed March 10, 2010.

This speech follows on after the Statement of Compatibility.

The government refused to allow more time for public consultation.

The Bill was debated by the Legislative Assembly on 24-25 March 2010.
It was passed by 50 votes to 33 votes.
Hansard - 24 and 25 March - Debate starts Page 1040.
Hansard 25 March - Vote - Page 1123.
The Liberal and National Parties opposed the Bill.

ACTION: PLEASE ACT NOW!

The bill now goes to the Legislative Council.

If you live in VICTORIA, PLEASE CONTACT your FIVE Members in the Legislative Council.

Ask them to OPPOSE the Equal Opportunity Bill 2010. List the two objections outlined above.

Follow these steps to find your MPs:
To find your 6 Members of Parliament (One in the Legislative Assembly and Five in the Legislative Council), simply click here, type in your suburb/town or postcode and click "Search" - and the name and contact details of all six Members and their electorates will be displayed!

The first is your Legislative Assembly Member.

The NEXT FIVE are your representatives in the Legislative Council.

If two or more members are listed for the Legislative Assembly, you will need to find out which one represents you.
Do this by going to this page on the Australian Electoral Commission website - this will give you your federal, state and local electorates.

Click on each of their emails and send them your brief letter!

Better still, phone them up and ask to see them...

And PLEASE spread the word to your friends!