- Senior Lecturer, The University of Western Australia
Not only did the Queensland law prohibit the freedom of religion of a small vulnerable minority, it did so deliberately.
A schism over gay marriage has led to a split in the Anglican church in Australia. Will it affect the church’s future?
An ongoing shift in Australia’s religious demographics is playing out in our laws. Perhaps the most obvious example is marriage equality.
NSW and Victoria have taken different approaches on allowing unvaccinated people in places of worship, indicating the possibility for conflicting and confusing rules across the country.
Banning the kirpan because it resembles a knife heads Australia down a path of religion free schools.
Religious objections to vaccinations have been around almost as long as vaccinations themselves. This presents a new challenge to policy makers as we get closer to a potential COVID-19 vaccine.
Sometimes aggrieved parties simply want an apology, and this would be an important provision under the draft legislation.
We asked five experts from various fields whether school uniforms should be compulsory. Four out of five said no.
Questions are being raised about the charitable nature of the ACL’s fundraising campaign for the rugby star.
Australians already enjoy a relatively high level of religious freedom. However, discrimination and vilification on the basis of people’s faith still exists.
Trust Me, I’m An Expert: Episode 1
The Conversation, CC BY-ND81.9 MB (download)
In this episode of Trust Me I'm An Expert, we're wading into the same-sex marriage debate with experts on the Bible and the law, and fact-checking claims that kids do best with a mother and a father.
Everything from the curious to the serious
The Conversation, CC BY-ND4.16 MB (download)
A new monthly podcast from The Conversation, where we bring you the most fascinating, surprising stories from the academic world.
Religious education offered in Australian state schools has variations in the quality of delivery and limited provisions for the students who opt out.
A case before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal highlights the need for schools to accommodate articles of religious and cultural practice in their uniform policies.
We are a secular nation, yet we acknowledge god in our Constitution. When it comes to religion, Australians tend to be pluralist and (relatively) tolerant.
Australia has a form of secularism where religion is allowed in the public sphere. As long as religion remains one voice and one option among many, the nation will still be secular.
The proposed changes to the anti-discrimination act caused a stir in Tasmania. However they’re in line with the rest of the country.
When a baker refuses, on religious grounds, to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, the right to freedom of religion comes into conflict with the right to freedom from discrimination.
The burqa and niqab are often viewed as symbols of extremism. In the wake of the rise of Islamic State, it is unsurprising, therefore, that in recent days a number of Australian politicians have called…
The Australian Anglican Church has put the interests of children and victims of crime ahead of tradition and doctrine. Priests who hear confessions about serious criminal offences, including child abuse…
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) was created by the former federal Labor government and began operation in December 2012. It is so new that some charities are yet to be required…
In recent weeks the issue of the religious content of Australian education has been hotly debated. Last week The Age reported the latest development. Principals in several Victorian state schools had ceased…
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