Councillor Kerri McCafferty stands up for secularism

As we say goodbye to 2020, we want to leave you with this video of what we think was possibly the best pro-secular speech in Australian politics this year!

In speaking in support of a motion to remove Christian prayers from the proceedings of the Mornington Peninsula Shire council, Independent councillor Kerri McCafferty argued that secularism provides “true religious freedom”.

We hope that Kerri’s speech can inspire secular-minded Australians right across the country to make their voices heard on the issue of Christian prayers being privileged in our elected governing institutions and on other issues throughout 2021.

We look forward to seeing more politicians standing up for secularism and addressing the unrepresentative, undemocratic and discriminatory practice of imposing religious rituals on Australia’s diverse community.

With the help of our followers in recent days, we’ve been able to add more local councils – including Perth City Council, City of Darwin, Wollongong Council and The Hills Shire Council – to our list of parliaments and councils that mandate prayer.

The NSL would like to wish everyone the best for 2021. We look forward to another – and better – year working for the protection and advancement of a truly secular democracy. Stay safe and look after each other!

As part of our #SecularGovernment campaign, we're building a list of the parliaments and councils that enforce the recital of prayers as part of their official government business.

Check out the current list here.

At the National Secular Lobby, we're pleased to have joined forces with a number of pro-secular community organisations in the #DontDivideUs campaign against the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill. Add your voice to the campaign.