Weekend Wrap for 6 June 2021
Catch up on the latest secular-related news from around the country in the NSL Weekend Wrap for 6 June 2021.
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At the National Level
A Labor senator has accused the Morrison government of a ‘cover-up’ for failing to disclose details of the groups it has been consulting with on the development of the new Religious Discrimination Bill since late last year. (Rationalist Society of Australia)
Conservative religious group Familyvoice Australia has told MPs across Australia that they must “get their act together” to protect more young people from the harms of gender intervention. (Familyvoice Australia)
Around the Country
NSW: Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Town Hall in Sydney on Saturday to make their opposition to Mark Latham's “transphobic” law reforms heard, and to raise awareness about the threat the changes pose to trans and gender diverse people. (Star Observer)
VIC: Shocking new figures from the Commission for Children and Young People show that there have been four times as many reports of sexual misconduct in religious and independent schools as there have been in state schools, despite the state system educating twice as many students. (Herald Sun)
WA: The Australian Christian Lobby’s State Director Peter Abetz (brother of Liberal party Senator Eric Abetz) has defended the ‘Real Lives’ program that it conducts in association with ‘ex-gay’ organisation True Identity, described by some as including elements of gay conversion therapy. (Out in Perth)
VIC: A Revival Church pastor has been arrested for incitement after holding a service in breach of COVID lockdown and declaring on Facebook that he had chosen to ‘obey God over man’. (Eternity News)
QLD: Bishop of Townsville, Timothy Harris, continues to speak out publicly to persuade Queensland politicians supporting euthanasia they are making a grave mistake. (Catholic Leader)
VIC: Boroondara Councillor Victor Franco is calling on the public to help him replace exclusionary Christian prayers with something more inclusive to open their council meetings. (Rationalist Society of Australia)
Commentary and Analysis
Electing candidates from churches like Scott Morrison's Pentecostal Church and packing them into parliament is damaging to a viable democracy, writes NSL director Brian Morris. (Independent Australia)
Ben White and Lindy Willmott of QUT propose that Queensland's Voluntary Assisted Dying laws can be best in Australia. (Courier Mail)
That's it for another week!
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