Freedom of Religion Report released

In 2008 the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) set out to conduct an investigation into 'Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st century'. [See our campaign page on this issue]

The research was carried out by the Australian Multicultural Commission - in particular by co-authors Gary Bouma, Des Cahill, Hass Dellal and Athalia Zwartz. Bouma and Cahill were the co-ordinators for the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne - and Bouma, Cahill and Dellal were co-authors of the 2004 report 'Cultural Diversity and Safeguarding Australia' which we were very concerned about - see our webage on that report. Gary Bouma was also a witness for the Islamic Council of Victoria in their case against pastors Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah.

The current research into the freedom of religion and belief in Australia followed up the 1998 study 'Freedom of Religion and Belief' that had recommended a 'Religious Freedom Act' for Australia.

Some good news...

The new 92 page Report was presented to the AHRC on 21 March 2011. Thankfully, due to the wide range of views presented during the Consultation, the Report does not recommend any form of legislation - whether a 'Freedom of Religion Act', or more anti-discrimination or anti-vilification laws. This is good news!

However, the report concludes that "There is a pressing need for education about religionsto reduce ignorance and fear while promoting intergroup respect."

The Report recommends that "The Australian Human Rights Commission needs to continue to monitor issues of freedom of religion and belief, including non-belief. The Commission also needs to foster a discussion about the place of religious rights alongside other rights, allowing for the view to be heard that religious rights are absolute, and then to allow that view to be tempered by other views."
Mmmmmmmmm! Not such good news...

Regarding education, the report says that there is support "for education about the religions, spiritualities and worldviews present in and affecting Australia". They recommend that there should be "an organisation or body that monitors and adjudicates and informs and assists in dealing with issues relating to religious practice within the education system."
This could be a problem if such a body starting dictating what should be taught about various religions.

The Homepage for the Report - click here.
The actual Report - 1.8 MB pdf - click here.