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In July 2019 Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would consult with Labor on the design of the promised religious discrimination act and pledged to introduce the laws to parliament in 2019.
In February 2022 Scott Morrison pulls the plug on his pledge to pass a religious discrimination bill before the federal election due by May.
“Where does that leave around 14 million Christians who were ‘promised’ protection from religious discrimination? FamilyVoice has repeatedly expressed its concerns over the fact that Christians are the most persecuted faith sector in Australia today. Whether by accident or design, Christian communities have once again been left stranded in the wilderness of persecution,” said Greg Bondar, FamilyVoice Australia spokesman.
FamilyVoice predicted last year that the issue of faith-based schools would become an election issue due to a push by recalcitrant Liberal Party MPs, in back door deal with the Attorney General, for the possible removal of section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act in exchange for the passage of the bill.
“Majority of Australians would uphold the right of faith-based schools to teach and conduct their schools according to their faith values. Christian schools must be allowed to continue to teach Christian values,” added Greg Bondar.
The fact remains that the strategic shelving of the RDB at the 11th hour gives the Morrison government another attempt at trying to convince some 14 million Christian voters that they will deliver if re-elected. ‘Once bitten twice shy’ as they say when it comes to supporting a government at the polls.
The sticking point over the Sex Discrimination Act will be a challenge for both sides post-election so why pull the bill now at the expense of the rest of the bill?