The nation’s peak legal body has condemned the Morrison government’s revised religious discrimination bill, declaring it remains “a deeply flawed piece of legislation” that puts freedom of religious expression ahead of other human rights.

Law Council of Australia president Arthur Moses SC said Attorney-General Christian Porter should not take “any comfort” from some religious bodies expressing support for recent changes to the draft legislation.

“The important question is whether it is in the best interests of all Australians and harmony in Australian society,” Mr Moses said. “It remains a deeply flawed piece of legislation. Our strength as a nation is our belief in the rights and freedoms of all Australians. Laws which favour one right over another, as the proposed religious discrimination bill does, weaken the rights of everybody, and should be a major concern for all Australians.”

Under changes to the legislation unveiled this month by Mr Porter and Scott Morrison, churches, faith-based schools, hospitals and charities will be able to discriminate on hiring staff based on their religious beliefs.

The new draft bill also strengthens conscientious objection protections for religious groups and individuals, and provides a clearer definition of vilification as “incitement of hatred or violence”.

The 11 changes came after the initial draft bill was almost universally criticised, including by religious groups, business, legal experts and gay lobby groups. Read more via The Australian