The Australian Government’s religious discrimination bills were in the news again this week:

• Religious bill rights under question
• Attorney general defends religious schools’ right to sack teachers for views on sexuality

Concerns were raised when the third version was released:

• Third time lucky? What has changed in the latest draft of the religious discrimination bill?
• Religious discrimination bill: Does the blessing of the law give us the right to discriminate?

Uniting Church minister Elenie Poulos submitted:

Religious freedom and freedom of speech should be protected in Australian Commonwealth law under a comprehensive human rights charter that would give effect to Australia’s obligations to protect people’s human rights. In the absence of any political will to enact such a charter, religious freedom and the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of religion, should be protected in terms consistent with current anti-discrimination laws. This Bill should not be passed in its current form.

She also wrote:

• New religious discrimination bill will cause damage to Australian society that will be difficult to heal

Other commentary:

• ACT government criticises federal religious discrimination bills, warns laws would 'erode' local protections
• Coalition’s religious discrimination bill will erode rights of people with disability, advocates say

Attorney-General’s Department:

• Religious Discrimination Bills 2021