Christian lobby welcomes Victorian Government’s change of heart on religious freedom

Australian Christian Lobby Media Release

September 2009

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today welcomed the Victorian Government’s change of heart in recognising the need to protect religious freedom in proposed changes to the Equal Opportunity Act 1995.

ACL Victorian Director Rob Ward said some of the options canvassed as part of a review of exceptions and exemptions to the Act would, had they been implemented, have had serious repercussions for churches, church schools and church-related organisations.

“Faith-based groups throughout Victoria have been united in their strong concern about a number of the options being looked at as they would have undermined the very core of these bodies by preventing them from upholding their beliefs in terms of who they employ and therefore how they operate,” Mr Ward said.

“It is good to see the Victorian Government respecting those concerns and the basic right to religious freedom in this State.

“It is equally necessary to now see the same respect for freedom applied to issues of conscience around last year's changes to abortion laws.”

Mr Ward said the ACL agreed with the broad thrust of the Government’s proposed changes as announced this weekend, but would need to see the full detail of the changes and how they are outworked in legislative terms.

“We will await the legislation with interest,” he said.

Media Contact: Rob Ward 0408 348 352; Glynis Quinlan on 0408 875 979.