As the nation entered COVID-19 lockdown in March, Attorney-General Christian Porter quietly delayed the Australian Law Reform Commission review of the framework of religious exemptions in anti-discrimination legislation. A pandemic seemed like the perfect opportunity for Mr Porter to put faith-based rights on the back burner.  

This was the second delay to the key Coalition election commitment, which was intended to broaden protections for religious freedoms in the wake of the same-sex marriage vote.

Our message is simple: prioritise religious freedoms protections now, don’t persecute Christians this Christmas!

We are calling upon the Prime Minister and Attorney General to begin work to protect our religious freedoms as early as February 2021 when federal parliament resumes from the festive season break.

Faith-based businesses, schools, hospitals, aged care homes and community organisations must be allowed to operate within their sincerely held beliefs - a right promised upon the Morrison government’s election prior to COVID-19. 

As Christians across Australia, we must not stay silent about the issues that are important to us. Our faith speaks to the different aspects of our life as a guiding light for the principles that we hold dear.

The various restrictions recently placed upon churches in relation to COVID-19 only showed us the significant ignorance and insensitivity the government has when it comes to exercising our faith.

Don’t underestimate the power your voice can have weighing into this vital issue. That’s why I’m asking you to stand with us today to demand ScoMo’s government uphold their election promise so we do not continue to suffer from marginalisation.