In late 2016 the Australian Senate established a committee to inquire into the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill. The committee called for submissions exploring: the proposed exemptions for ministers of religion, marriage celebrants and religious bodies and organisations to refuse to conduct or solemnise marriages, and the extent to which those exemptions prevent encroachment upon
The Institute for Civil Society (Mr Kennedy and Dr Rodrick) gave evidence to the Committee on 23 January 2017 and undertook to take the following question on notice. Mark Sneddon - Executive Director Simon Kennedy - Research Analyst Dr Sharon Rodrick - Research Analyst 30 January 2017 www.i4cs.com.au contact@i4cs.com.au QoN 1: Senator Pratt – Would
On Tuesday afternoon, Victoria’s upper house of Parliament voted down the Labor Government’s Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill. The Bill was a direct attack on religious groups in Victoria, as it restricted the ability of religious groups to make employment decisions based on whether a candidate or employee agreed with and practised the religion. The Bill
The Victorian Labor Government has run into heavy weather trying to convince the Legislative Council to pass its Religious Exceptions Bill. Read more at The Spectator Australia website .
A bill before the Victorian Parliament professes to put an end to discrimination, but the result will be nothing of the kind. What it would achieve is nothing less than the formal rejection of the idea that diverse views are integral to the conduct of a civil society The difference between religious and government schools
The law exists to help rulers govern society, and should help those in that society to live peaceably. The law should allow people to live and let live. It should encourage people to get along with one another. However, it is more and more the case that the law is dabbling in questions which are
On September 11 2016, ICS Executive Director Mark Sneddon wrote a submission to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC)—an all-party, joint house committee tasked with examining all Bills presented to the Victorian Parliament. Mr Sneddon drew the attention of MPs to significant human rights problems with the Equal Opportunity Amendment (Religious Exceptions) Bill
On August 11 2016, ICS Executive Director Mark Sneddon addressed a gathering of community leaders representing people from a range of different faiths, at Victoria’s Parliament House. Speaking on both the Labor Party’s proposed reintroduction of an ‘inherent requirements’ test, and the Greens’ Equality for Students Bill; Mr Sneddon outlined why voluntary organisations should be
