Scott Morrison says religious freedom push is “preventative”

Scott Morrison says religious freedom push is “preventative”
Image: Image: Australian Christian Lobby / YouTube.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that his push for religious freedom protections is because there is “no guarantee” they won’t come under threat.

Morrison went on Sky News to discuss how he proposes to address the apparently very pressing concern of religious freedom in Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The PM indicated any measures would be “preventative” because he isn’t “pleased with the trajectory” of freedom of speech in the country.

Morrison said that religious schools’ right to hire and fire employees along religious lines should be upheld – which would include firing LGBTI staff simply because of their relationships.

Last year, a Perth school fired a teacher for being gay which has since brought religious schools’ ability to discriminate based on sexuality or gender identity into question in Western Australia.

“Why should you be denied a directorship or a partnership in a law firm or accountancy firm just because you happen to have expressed on Facebook or somewhere a particular religious belief?” Morrison said.

“It shouldn’t happen in this country. Now I’m not saying it is, necessarily. People say, ‘Oh well, if there’s not this great problem, why do you need to do it?’

“Can they guarantee me it won’t happen in the future?” he asked.

“I’ve seen where this issue has gone over the last ten years. And issues of freedom of speech, I’ve seen where they’ve gone over the last ten years. I’m not quite sure I’m pleased with the trajectory.

“So there’s nothing wrong with a bit of preventative regulation and legislation to ensure your religious freedom in this country. I mean, what’s more fundamental than that?”

Advocates have already said they will lobby the Senate to block any push Morrison makes on religious freedoms, saying they will fight to “oppose any new law that waters down existing discrimination protections.”

“There is no threat to religious freedom so we fear the real purpose of any new law will be to take existing discrimination protections away from LGBTI Australians,” said just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome.

Sky host Paul Murray pushed back on Morrison, asking him if overzealous religious freedom protection legislation might enable “the extremes of any faith” and allow people to exercise “the worst parts of their faith”.

In response, Morrison said religious beliefs should be unimpeded unless they “contravene national laws,” but it’s as yet unclear how this would interact with existing anti-discrimination legislation.

Like predecessor Malcolm Turnbull, Morrison is delaying the long-held release of Philip Ruddock’s review of religious freedoms which was commissioned following the passage of marriage equality.

Advocates are already concerned about Morrison’s desire for a hardline push on religious freedoms based on his Australian Christian Lobby affiliations and troubling attacks on trans youth.

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4 responses to “Scott Morrison says religious freedom push is “preventative””

  1. “The PM indicated any measures would be “preventative” because he isn’t “pleased with the trajectory” of freedom of speech in the country.”

    Oh, you mean like when you passed laws, this year, against Australians protesting the government? — with the threat of prison for speaking out against corruption? You mean like THAT freedom of speech trajectory?

    …and then…

    “Why should you be denied a directorship or a partnership in a law firm or accountancy firm just because you happen to have expressed on Facebook or somewhere a particular religious belief?” Morrison said.

    “It shouldn’t happen in this country. Now I’m not saying it is, necessarily. ”

    That’s because IT IS NOT HAPPENING, AT ALL! This is all pandering to a festering boil of religious extremists which is identical to every other extremist group where religion is involved.

    Gosh, it’s amazing how you jump for your masters, Scomo! It took years of polls and multiple campaigns and a plebiscite to RESTORE basic human rights to the LGBTI community– yet here YOU are, jumping to promote something that DOESN’T EVEN EXIST!

    VOTE THESE CLOWNS OUT!

  2. Great point Denise. I think this could be a lawyers’ picnic, depending on how ScoMo’s legislation is worded.

    Just a year ago we saw a terrible bill from Senator James Paterson who wanted to provide for “freedom of religious conscience” but then drafted a bill which only provided religious freedoms which were anti-same-sex-couples and could never be used against straights (eg by folks who have religious disagreement with divorcees re-marrying). Paterson withdrew his bill and wandered away, tail between legs, when he got caught out. Bizarrely the Catholic church backed Patto’s bill even though it contradicted Catholic teaching on divorcees.

    I’m quite in favour of some religious freedoms. I don’t support burka bans or headscarf bans but equally I loathe that muslim schools make headscarves compulsory uniform items – I support the religious freedom of muslim women to wear or not wear a headscarf as they personally (not their family and particularly not men) choose. Sadly I’m betting ScoMo supports the right of religious parents to insist on how their kids dress.

    If it turns out “religious freedom” is just code for gay-bashing I’m hoping God puts out a press release distancing herself from these arseholes.

  3. Well, Scotty, ever heard of Section 116 of the Australian Constitution? Unless a person’s sexuality impacts upon their ability to do they job, a religious organisation that fires them should have no recourse or defence if they are accused of unfair dismissal! And let us not forget, that although they cannot be compared, a gay teacher will not do ANYTHING like the damage a paedophile could do!

  4. “Why should you be denied a directorship or a partnership in a law firm or accountancy firm just because you happen to have expressed on Facebook or somewhere a particular religious belief?” Morrison said.

    But its quite ok to be a really good teacher and be sacked just because you have a legal same sex partner.

    What a complete hypocrite.