To download this statement in PDF format, click here.

In an historic meeting in Sydney on Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with 21 leaders of major faith com­munit­ies in Australia to discuss progress in the government’s plans to introduce a Religious Dis­crim­in­a­tion Bill later this year (see picture).  The Jewish, Catholic, Anglican, Uniting Church, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Assyrian and Melkite com­munit­ies were among those rep­res­en­ted at the meeting.

ECAJ co-CEO Peter Wertheim, who rep­res­en­ted the Jewish community, hailed the meeting.

“There cannot be many other countries in the world in which the head of gov­ern­ment can have a con­struct­ive con­ver­sa­tion over one and a half hours with such a diverse range of faith community leaders on as sensitive a topic as religious freedom  and dis­crim­in­a­tion,” he said.

“Each of us outlined what was of import­ance to our respect­ive com­munit­ies not only with regard to the proposed legis­la­tion but also in terms of Australia’s broader cultural attitudes with regard to religion”, Wertheim said.

“There was a large measure of agreement in the room about many of the prin­ciples that the gov­ern­ment is grappling with in seeking a fair and workable balance between religious freedom and competing rights and freedoms.  This sends a positive message to the world about how effect­ively Australia operates as a multi-faith and mul­ti­cul­tur­al society”.

Wertheim emphas­ised that the gov­ern­ment is still working on the draft legis­la­tion, and that there will likely be further con­sulta­tions as the process unfolds.  “We all welcomed the Prime Minister’s assurance that the gov­ern­ment is ‘not rushing this’ and will continue to proceed in a measured and con­sidered way.”

“The Prime Minister praised the role that religious belief has played in community building”, Wertheim said. “From the tenor of his comments and responses to our concerns, I felt reassured that the rights and freedoms of people of faith to practise and preach their beliefs, and the rights and freedoms of faith-based schools and insti­tu­tions to operate in accord­ance with their ethos, will continue to be protected in accord­ance with inter­na­tion­al norms”.

Contact
Peter Wertheim AM | co-CEO
ph: 02 8353 8500 | m: 0408 160 904 | fax 02 9361 5888
e: pwertheim@ecaj.org.au | www.ecaj.org.au