This week the Morrison Government has introduced into Parliament
the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (Cth)
(Bill) . The Bill seeks to make it unlawful to
discriminate against a person on the ground of religious belief or
activity in various areas of public life, including work,
education, access to premises and the provision of goods, services
and accommodation. However, it permits faith-based employers to
discriminate against workers based on their “religious belief
or activity” if it is connected to their position as an
employee or prevents them performing inherent requirements.
The Bill, as drafted, provides that “statements of
belief” are not considered discriminatory, if they
don't threaten, intimidate, harass or vilify a person or
would be considered malicious to a “reasonable
person”.
