Defeat the Bill that undermines Religious Freedom
To the President and Members of the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL of New South Wales in Parliament Assembled: The humble petitioners and citizens of New South Wales call upon the NSW State Government:
Religious freedom essentially includes the freedom to teach, preach and propagate one’s beliefs, and to express opinions about other world-views. This applies for all religions and certainly for the Christian religion where Christ commands His followers to propagate their faith (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Anti Discrimination Amendment (Religious Tolerance) Bill includes heavy fines and imprisonment to deter vilification. The effect of this is that one religious group cannot frankly and openly speak of another religion for fear of vilification. This law undermines freedom of speech with respect to religion.
In any case, the legislation is unnecessary since our community has perfectly effective mechanisms for correcting intemperate or offensive statements, whether on religion, race or any other topic – namely public forums in newspapers, open debate and discussion, talk-back radio etc.
In view of the fact that the Australian Constitution: (a) forbids the making of any Commonwealth law “prohibiting the free exercise of any religion” (Section 116), and (b) decrees that “when a State law is inconsistent with a law of the Commonwealth, the latter shall prevail…” (Sect 109).
And your petitioners therefore request that the Anti Discrimination Amendment (Religious Tolerance) Bill be defeated, and, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Supporting the campaign starts here by clicking here to download the petition. Please encourage all concerned citizens to sign and then mail to our office so they can be delivered to Parliament.