RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION AND VILIFICATION
IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
On 5 May 2003, the South Australian Attorney General issued an open letter with respect to a discussion paper proposing a law against religious discrimination and vilification. In a recent statement to Parliament, the Attorney General announced that after public consultation, no new law would be proposed. The Temple of the Dark Moon is naturally disappointed with the Attorney General's decision because South Australia is the only state or territory in all of Australia where there is no such law protecting individuals against discrimination on religious grounds.
On 11 June 2002 a discussion paper outlining proposed changes to the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 to include a law against discrimination on the grounds of religion was released. The South Australian Government believes that discrimination against any person or group on the ground of religion is wrong and contemplated legislation to make it unlawful. The Government sought the views of the public and interested groups on a proposed new law against religious discrimination and vilification.
The paper attracted more than 3,000 submissions, a large number for a Government discussion paper, with most being handwritten letters from members of Christian churches urging the Government to abandon the proposal. These God-fearing folk expressed a fear that the proposed new laws could be used in prevent them from freely preaching and practising their religion, and seeking to convert others.
Representative bodies from most of the religions practised in South Australia, such as the Buddhists, Baha'is, Greek Orthodox Community, Hindu Society, Islamic Society and even the Seventh-Day Adventist Church supported the proposal, or supported it with qualifications. Secular commentators such as the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity, the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission also supported the proposal. Interestingly enough, all of the main western Christian denominations, including many Christian schools, were opposed the proposal.
The Attorney General apparently met with some representatives of Christian Churches late last year who felt they could not support such a proposal. These Churches agreed to enter into a dialogue with representatives of religious groups that supported the proposal, and according to the Attorney General, this dialogue is continuing although the Temple of the Dark Moon, or any other Pagan organisation in South Australia, has not been invited to enter into such dialogue.
The Attorney General and Government seems to now be of the opinion that most of the people who would benefit form such a new law appeared not only to want such a law, but were ardently opposed to it. The Government feels that it's commitment to consult on a proposal for new laws against religious discrimination has been fulfilled, and due to the strong support both for and against such a proposed law, it has decided that no new law will be proposed.
The Temple of the Dark Moon is somewhat mifted as to how the Attorney General and Government could have reached such an decision without meeting with a wider range of representatives of the religious communities within South Australia. Indeed the content of their own letter echos with the ongoing discrimination that minority religions have to deal with.
The Temple of the Dark Moon is far from satisfied with the Attorney General's response and will be taking this matter up with other Parliamentary representatives because we strongly believe that South Australia needs such a law passed.
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