The Attorney General’s Office has made public some of the submissions to the government’s consultation over its revised religious freedom bill.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had promised to have religious freedom legislation introduced into parliament before last Christmas, but at the eleventh hour the bill was pulled and replaced with updated legislation which some critics say is worse than the first iteration.
Returning to the consultation phase, Attorney General Christian Porter asked for public feedback on the bill and received 6,792 responses from the Australian people. To date only a few of these submissions had been released but this week several hundred were added to the department’s website.
Health Organisations
The WA AIDS Council (WAAC) argued that the proposed bill could have a negative effect on Australia’s effort to end HIV transmissions. WAAC highlights that allowing doctors, pharmacists and other medical professionals to refuse service to people based on their own personal religious beliefs could stop people having access to HIV medication and PrEP treatments.
“These provisions prevent healthcare providers from developing conduct rules stopping doctors, nurses, pharmacists and psychologists from conscientiously objecting to provide a range of services to an individual if they deem a medical procedure, service or treatment to be inconsistent with their religious beliefs,” said Kristina Mitsikas, the organisation’s Interim CEO.
The AIDS Council also highlights that sections of the bill will allow for discrimination against a wide range of people in society. Kristina Mitsikas said section 42 of the legislation was problematic.
“This section overrides federal, state and territory anti-discrimination laws and protects people who express prejudicial or discriminatory views about a range of Australians, including: people with HIV, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people, sex workers, people who use drugs and unmarried people and single mothers based on their religious beliefs, from prosecution.” Read more via Out in Perth