Federal
Religious Freedom Commitments
In the leadup to the 2025 federal election, senior leaders from across faith communities wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, asking them to make commitments to protect religious freedom on all its forms.
Both Labor and the Coalition responded, making commitments to religious freedom.
Key Commitments
Religious freedom and Religious Discrimination Bill
Labor
“Legal protections for people of faith will not go backwards under Labor.
To the contrary, Labor has long supported an expansion of the federal anti-discrimination framework to ensure that Australians are not discriminated against because of their religious beliefs or activities…
We continue to believe that these reforms should be progressed on a bipartisan basis to ensure they are enduring, unifying and fit-for-purpose.”
Coalition
“Under a Dutton Coalition Government religious Australians will not go backwards and freedom of religion will remain a cherished right in Australia.
The Coalition is committed to ensuring that freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom from discrimination, including on the basis of race or religion, are all protected and promoted.”
Freedom of speech, including religious speech
Labor
“Labor believes all Australians have the right to exercise their freedom of speech, while allowing others to live in dignity, and free from violence or the threat of violence. No Australian should be targeted because of who they are or what they believe.
Conduct that urges or threatens the use of force or violence against individuals or groups in a manner which impacts their enjoyment of fundamental human rights and participation in society is not a legitimate expression of opinion…
We will continue to work across the community to foster respect, understanding and inclusion across all communities that contribute to our vibrant and resilient multicultural society.”
Coalition
“Whilst all Australians have a right to express their views, including people with controversial views, they must remain within the framework of Australian law.
The Coalition will continue to oppose moves… to regulate and restrict free speech online.”
Faith-based organisations and schools
Labor
“…we developed draft legislation to:
- prevent discrimination against people of faith;
- protect all students from discrimination on any grounds; and
- protect teachers from discrimination at work, while maintaining the right of religious schools to preference people of their faith in the selection of staff.
In developing this legislation, we sought to extend protections to… people of faith, without removing or overriding any existing protections.
We continue to believe that these reforms should be progressed on a bipartisan basis to ensure they are enduring, unifying and fit-for-purpose.”
Coalition
“A Dutton Government will support the rights of religious organisations, including faith-based schools when employing staff to preference those who adhere to the beliefs of the religious organisation. The Coalition believes Australians should be free to follow their religion, or lack of religion, without discrimination and that religious schools and bodies should be able to employ staff based on its values.”
The most important thing you can do now is to write to your local MP to thank them for their commitments to religious freedom, and encourage them to keep them.
Write to your MP today!
Search for your MP to find their contact details and a guide to writing or meeting with them. You can search by MP name, electorate, suburb or postcode.
