Religious Act ‘divide’

Plea on discrimination bid

A PROMINENT Tasmanian union leader, who is a practising Christian, says the government’s Religious Discrimination Act will further divide communities.

In a Talking Point in Monday’s Mercury, John Short, the secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, has urged people of faith to lobby against the Act, which was introduced into federal parliament last year.

“In all of my time as a practising Christian and a person of faith, I have never felt discriminated, threatened or pressured about that faith,” Mr Short wrote.

“These proposed laws to make discrimination lawful if expressed by a religious organisation will allow and even encourage discrimination, humiliation, harassment and general nastiness in the name of religion.

“If our faith is strong enough, we shouldn’t need this preferential treatment, we shouldn’t allow this legislation to stand as it will further divide communities.”

Mr Short, who attends St David’s Anglican Cathedral most Sundays, said church and state needed to be kept separate. “If Scott Morrison’s proposed legislation is enacted, it will not only create division and put in place artificial barriers that are not there at present, but give church activities preference over others within our society,” he said.

“Christ is a compassionate, caring, forgiving, and generous person who was not concerned with who you were, where you came from, or even what religion you were.”

However, Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz disagreed.

“It’s unfortunate that Mr Short has put his Labor allegiance ahead of the glaring obvious that there is a need for a religious discrimination act,” Senator Abetz said. “Even the Australian Human Rights Commission has criticised the lack of protections for religious freedom.

“(Catholic) Archbishop Julian Porteous might have something to say about Mr Short’s bizarre observation as would Israel Folau, both of whom are real, live, recent examples of people that have suffered religious discrimination.”