4th September, 2015
Australia’s Human Rights Commission Tim Wilson has this week called for submissions in the lead-up to an inaugural roundtable on religious freedom to be held in November.
Mr Wilson said in a statement he hoped the roundtable would be the first of a number aimed at stimulating “much needed dialogue on exercising religious freedom in 21st century Australia”.
“Religious freedom is not only central to human rights, it is inextricable from other fundamental freedoms such as freedom of thought, conscience, speech and association, as well as property rights. But religious freedom cannot be unlimited. It has to be exercised with a respect and mindfulness of the rights of others such as equality before the law and government, and the freedoms of those without faith.”
The roundtable comes in the wake of a series of national consultations on rights and responsibilities Mr Wilson carried out last year.
He is particularly keen for submissions on government laws and regulations that limit religious freedom, on preserving religious freedom when an organisation receives taxpayer money to provide a public service, on balancing the right of religious freedom and equality before the law, and on developing mechanisms to support religious inclusion and social cohesion.
Written submissions can be emailed to [email protected] before 25th September.
– DAVID ADAMS
