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SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
Politics, Religion, Policy and Law in Australia
The Democrats have put together a discussion paper as a resource for the debate we wish to foster on the role of religion in politics and the separation of church and state. We have not covered every complex issue, nor is this an in-depth academic treatise on the subject. Rather it is intended as a tool to facilitate discussion and to guide the Democrats on policy. Your feedback is welcome.
The line between religion and government in Australia has become blurred.
The churches now run more publicly funded schools and universities and public hospitals, aged care and employment services on behalf of government and can use these services to proselytise or to exclude those with other beliefs. This relationship with government can compromise the social justice function of the traditional churches in speaking out about the treatment of refugees, the attack on Iraq, on industrial relations and on poverty and indeed these churches in particular have been attacked by government for doing so.
Churches enjoy tax exempt status, even for business enterprises, but there is little accountability for this financial advantage and no obligation for the public revenue foregone be spent in the public interest rather than those of particular churches.
Conservative religious organisations appear more influential in the major political parties and are investing their considerable resources into electing their own candidates, viz the Family First party. Federal ministers have reacted with divisive arguments to debates over euthanasia, abortion, gay marriage and Christian values. Political leaders and would-be leaders have publicly declared their religious faith and courted Hillsong, Ministries of Fire and other new evangelical churches.
So have Australians become more religious or is it just their politicians? Do Australians wish to see religion having more say in government and, if so what this mean for democracy?
The Australian Democrats say the neo-conservative religious right - much of it with roots in the US - is having a disproportionate influence on public policy.
The Australian Democrats stand for a fair society that values justice, democracy, individual freedom and diversity. We support freedom of religion and the right of citizens to practice, or not practice, a religious faith. But while we support freedom of religious observance, we do not consider that religion should have undue influence on the governance of Australian citizens and nor do we support the exploitation of religion and religious difference for political purposes.
We will explore the relationship between religion and politics in Australia and campaign for clearer separation of Church and State as some other countries have done.
What we are doing
Media statements, speeches and other work in the Parliament. You can also sign up receive email updates on this issue - just click on the link and put "sign up to god and government updates" in the subject line.
Speeches & Reports
THE SOCRATIC FORUM: That we should keep religion out of Australian politics - Senator Lyn Allison, 15 November 2006
Remembering ROTI: Looking forward, looking back - 10th Anniversary Conference of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act - Senator Lyn Allison, 22 September 2006
Speech to Rationalist Society - Religion, RU486, and other matters - Senator Lyn Allison, 30 Aug 2006
Teaching It Like It Is Conference July 2006 - Senator Lyn Allison, 14 Jul 2006
Separating Church and State Conference 2006: Does God have a place in government? - Senator Lyn Allison, 17 Jun 2006
MOTION: Separation of Church and State - Senator Lyn Allison, 1st March 2006
The Role of Religion in Australian Politics - Senator Allison speaks to the Peaceful Pill Conference for Exit International, 5 November 2005
Politics, religion and Other Impolite Topics Forum - Senator Lyn Allison, November 2005
Questions
Funding Of School Chaplains
The Minister's Reply To Funding Of School Chaplains
Take note of answers: Funding of School Chaplains
Senator Lyn Allison, 19 Jun 2006
Religious Education In Queensland State Schools - Senator Lyn Allison, 24th May 2006
Australian Values - Senator Lyn Allison, 27 February 2006
What Others Say
An uneasy marriage of necessity Faith and politics can be unhappy bedfellows, but it is possible for them to coexist? - Tony Coady, Online Opinion, 20 April 2007
Socratic Forum on the topic 'That we should keep religion out of Australian politics', ABC Radio National Special Good Friday Presentation
Speakers include Senator Lyn Allison, Professor Frank Brennan, Professor Judith Brett, Professor Desmond Cahill and Dr Brian Coman.
Listen using Real Media or Windows Media
Read the transcript [pdf]
Beyond the politics of Rudd and Abbott - Stephen Chatelier, Online Opinion, 22 March 2007.
Voting WITH Jesus - a response by Greg Croke, Australian Democrats member, SA Division, 1 March 2007.
Church and State: A Meeting Place - Fr Joe Caddy, Catholic Social Services Australia, Parliamentary Breakfast Speech, Parliament House, Canberra, 17 October 2006
Acting on Conscience: How Can We Responsibly Mix Law, Religion and Politics? - Father Frank Brennan,
UQ Press, 2006
Voting for Jesus: Christianity and Politics in Australia - Amanda Lohrey, Quarterly Essay 22, 2006
Church and State: Australia’s Imaginary Wall Sydney - Bishop Tom Frame, UNSW Press, 2006
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