Weekend Wrap for 12 September 2021
Welcome to the NSL Weekend Wrap for 12 September 2021, where you can catch up on the latest secular-related news from around the country.
Don’t forget that the Weekend Wrap, which aims to help secular-minded Australians keep abreast of the latest news on current issues, is also published on our Facebook page!
At the National Level
The inclusion of the power of employers to punish people who make potentially offensive religious statements outside work hours is emerging as a deal-breaker for supporting the Religious Discrimination Bill for some Christian conservatives. (The Australian; Paywalled)
After Victoria became the first state to agree to a ban on the public display of the swastika and other Nazi symbols, Jewish representatives are now calling for a nationwide ban. (Australian Jewish News)
Around the Country
WA: The state government is set to consider law reform stripping religious schools of their right to sack — or refuse to employ — gay or non-religious staff. (The West Australian; Paywalled)
QLD: Annastacia Palaszczuk has left the door open for changes to Queensland’s euthanasia legislation in the face of a campaign from religious hospitals to be exempt. (The Australian; Paywalled)
QLD: Brisbane's Vietnamese Catholic community is petitioning their local member, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, to reject "dangerous" euthanasia laws. (The Catholic Leader)
NSW: The anti-transgender education bill proposed by One Nation’s Mark Latham and endorsed by NSW Parliament has been condemned as a war on trans and gender diverse young people. (CityHub News)
NSW: The NSW Teachers Federation has condemned One Nation’s "war on trans and gender-diverse students expressed in a biased and misleading report of a NSW parliamentary committee written by One Nation MP Mark Latham." (NSW Teachers Federation)
QLD: A gay Brisbane pastor has spoken out against the Morrison Government’s controversial Religious Discrimination Bill. (Q News)
WA: The upper house of the Western Australian parliament appears set to continue with the recital of a prayer in parliament despite a committee spending the past three months considering ways to modernise proceedings. (Rationalist Society of Australia)
VIC: Police officers surrounded a synagogue in Melbourne’s east this week after dozens of worshippers were filmed entering in an apparent breach of lockdown restrictions. (The Australian; Paywalled)
NSW: NSW Labor has proposed a law similar to Victoria's swastika ban, with the display of Nazi symbols to attract jail time. (The Age)
Commentary and Analysis
Events and Advisories
Make a submission to the review of WA's Equal Opportunity Act. Submissions close 29 October 2021.
Dying With Dignity NSW has a tool that makes it easy for people to contact their federal MPs and senators to request help in repealing the "Andrews Bill", the 1997 legislation which denies the Territories the right to pass legislation on Voluntary Assisted Dying.
Visit the #QLD4VAD website to learn more about the campaign to introduce VAD laws into Queensland.
That's it for another week!
Until next time, please follow us on Twitter and on Facebook.
Don't forget to add your voice to the #DontDivideUs campaign against the Religious Discrimination Bill.
And if you are able, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the NSL to help us raise the secular profile in Australia. Every dollar helps!