Attorney General Michaelia Cash is attempting to
overcome division among Coalition MPs over a new religious discrimination bill. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
Cash, who took over the bill’s progress from
Christian Porter when she became attorney general in March, is now consulting
on a third iteration of the draft legislation in an attempt to overcome
internal resistance and fulfil an election promise.
Three issues are understood to face some resistance within the party room: the inclusion of a “Folau clause” that would give legal protection to someone expressing a statement of belief; conscientious objection provisions that would allow health practitioners to refuse to provide certain treatment; and the ability for religious institutions to discriminate against staff on the basis of religion to maintain a “faith-based ethos”.
The
Australian Christian Lobby has boasted it successfully pressured the government
into including a Folau clause – a provision that would legally protect an
individual from having their employment terminated as a result of them
expressing their religious views. The issue gained prominence after footballer
Israel Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia for social media posts suggesting homosexuals, adulterers, atheists
and other “sinners” would go to hell.
Source: Guardian Australia
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