Weekend Wrap for 5 September 2021

5 September 2021

Welcome to the NSL Weekend Wrap for 5 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

Coalition MPs have urged Scott Morrison to increase funding to the government's school chaplaincy program to help address concerns that activism against climate change is causing mental health problems for Australian children. (The Guardian)

The Australian Christian Lobby received $138,000 in JobKeeper payments last year despite reporting a 12 percent increase in income. (SMH)

A coalition of religious practitioners plans to seek an injunction against NSW and Victorian lockdown laws. (The West Australian)

Senator Michaelia Cash maintains that new laws to fight discrimination against people of faith will not morph into a religious bill of rights. (The Australian; Paywalled)

The government has used its numbers to prevent protections for transgender, non-binary and intersex people recommended by the Respect@Work Report being added to Australia’s workplace protection laws. (Out in Perth)

Survivors criticise Jehovah's Witness elders for failing to act over child sexual abuse claims. (Sky News)

Catholic health workers in hospitals and aged care have asked for clear safeguards against "discrimination" and "undue burdens" for staff who claim a "conscientious objection" to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. (The Australian; Paywalled)

The Rationalist Society of Australia claims that calls for increased funding for school chaplaincy are being driven by ideology instead of genuine concern for mental health and wellbeing. (RSA)

Around the Country

WA: Senator Pat Dodson has condemned fringe Christian groups for promoting anti-vaccination propaganda in remote Western Australia, saying people who spread fear and misinformation around coronavirus vaccines are "evil". (The Guardian)

QLD: Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge has issued a letter urging Catholics, their families and friends to sign a petition to the Queensland Parliament demanding MPs reject proposed euthanasia and assisted suicide laws. (The Catholic Leader)

QLD: A group of Catholics staged a morning rally outside parliament in Brisbane this week to voice their opposition to VAD, with one protester comparing the introduction of assisted dying laws to Nazi Germany. (The Catholic Leader)

SA: Southern Vales Christian College in Adelaide have said they will continue not to hire staff that identify as LGBTQIA+, saying that, “Our beliefs are such that we do not accept that homosexuality is appropriate”. (Star Observer)

SA: South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has spoken out against religious based schools who discriminate against people because of their sexuality or gender identity. (Out in Perth)

VIC: The Victorian Greens has pledged to remove the right of religious schools and organisations to legally terminate staff on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Star Observer)

TAS: A Tasmanian church has voiced its support for conversion practices and vowed to continue delivering the practices regardless of any law reform in the state. (Out in Perth)

WA: The Western Australian Law Reform Commission has released its Discussion Paper which reviews the state’s Equal Opportunity Act (1984). (Out in Perth)

VIC: Victoria will become the first state in Australia to make the public display of Nazi symbols illegal. The state is also set to extend anti-vilification protections beyond race and religion to cover areas such as sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and HIV/AIDS status. (Australian  Jewish News)

SA: The ACL lodged their opposition at the SA Legislative Council Select Committee on the decriminalisation of prostitution in SA. They report that SAPOL also opposed a reduction in regulation in the industry. (ACL)

Commentary and Analysis

Professor Simon Rice of the University of Sydney laments NSW's "confusing and outdated" anti-discrimination laws. (The Conversation)

The Catholic Weekly provides a detailed account of supposed flaws in the prosecution case against George Pell, based on a book by father Frank Brennan. (The Catholic Weekly)

Tim Costello warns of the "Ezekiel Declaration", signatories to which "are subtly undermining vaccination and dressing up the national push by our Government towards 80% vaccination before a Freedom Day as coercion." (Eternity News)

John Sandeman writes that the "Ezekiel Declaration" has gained the support of the Australian Christian Lobby’s (ACL) Martyn Iles, but has also attracted pushback from conservative evangelicals. (Eternity News)

Events and Advisories

Make a submission to the review of WA's Equal Opportunity Act. Submissions close 29 October 2021.

Sign up to the #DontDivideUs campaign, currently being run by a group of pro-secular groups including the NSL, to act against the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill.

DwD NSW are petitioning the NSW Parliament to work together to deliver voluntary assisted dying laws in 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.

The Human Rights for NSW alliance has launched a campaign calling for NSW to pass a Human Rights Act.

That's it for another week!

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Don't forget to add your voice to the #DontDivideUs campaign against the Religious Discrimination Bill.

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