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NSW needs major rethink of its proposed ban on conversion therapy

The NSW Government promised laws to ban harmful conversion therapy directed at an individual’s sexuality and not to follow the Victorian laws and to protect religious prayer and teaching. However the NSW Department of Justice Consultation Paper paid no attention and essentially copies the Victorian ban. ICS analysis shows the Victorian ban laws are an

By | October 3rd, 2023|Uncategorized|

The game is up for conservative Christians

In light of the Andrew Thorburn Essendon football club controversy, Simon Kennedy has written an article for The Australian, asking the question 'are people with traditional religious views free to participate in public life?' Here is the link to the original article published in The Australian: ARTICLE LINK And a PDF of the article can be accessed here: PDF

By | October 8th, 2022|Uncategorized|

Submission to the Inquiry on the Religious Discrimination Bill

The Institute for Civil Society supports the Religious Discrimination Bill and accompanying Bills as a long overdue protection of people of faith and their organisations from being discriminated against on the ground of their religious belief or religious activity. In January 2022, ICS made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into

By | May 10th, 2022|Freedom of Conscience and Religion|

Federal Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 Summary

PDF available here. The Bill’s strengths It provides for the first time national protection for individuals against discrimination on grounds of their religious belief or lawful religious activity in many fields of public life (like employment, education, accommodation, provision of goods or services). Currently there is no protection against religious discrimination in NSW or (except

By | December 14th, 2021|Uncategorized|

Analysing the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021

Prepared by Dr Sharon Rodrick Background and Lack of Consultation The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 was introduced into the Victorian Legislative Assembly on Tuesday 26 October and was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 28 October. Members of the Assembly were not given access to the 116 page Bill until

By | November 12th, 2021|Freedom of Expression|

ICS strongly supports the NSW Joint Select Committee Report on the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Freedoms and Equality) Bill 2020 (NSW)

An all-party NSW Parliamentary Joint Select Committee Report has made detailed recommendations for a NSW Government Bill to protect people and organisations from discrimination based on their religious belief or activity.[1] The Committee’s Report deserves strong support. Federal, State and Territory anti-discrimination laws all prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation and

By | July 10th, 2021|Freedom of Conscience and Religion|

Briefing Sheet – Victorian Conversion Practices Bill

Victoria set to create the broadest and harshest limits on free speech and access to advice, health care, counselling and prayer for same-sex attracted and gender dysphoric people A PDF version of this brief is available here. Summary The Victorian Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020 started with a good idea of banning coerced

By | January 28th, 2021|Freedom of Conscience and Religion|

Problems and Proposed Amendments: Victoria’s ‘Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020’

A PDF of this document is available here and a summary here. A.   Summary of Issues with the Bill The Bill’s bans are far too broad and make beneficial conduct and practices illegal This Bill has been introduced in response to reports by people of practices they experienced as harmful and traumatic (at the time or later) which were

By | January 17th, 2021|Freedom of Conscience and Religion, Uncategorized|

Anti-conversion Bill’s rigid ideology and overreach will harm not help

The Andrews Government’s Conversion and Suppression Practices Ban Bill started with an idea many would support – banning non-consensual aversion therapy for sexual orientation. But it totally jumps the shark by making illegal (and often criminal) a very wide range of conduct directed towards a person (from mere conversation to counselling to therapy) by anyone

By | December 8th, 2020|Freedom of Conscience and Religion|