An unhappy experience with the Voice referendum explains the Albanese government’s reticence to push ahead on religious freedoms. Debates that risk inflaming community tensions are best avoided for now, even if that means failing to deliver on an election promise, writes David Speers.
A long shadow looms over Albanese's plan for a religious discrimination act as he holds out for a dealScott Morrison was the last prime minister to blame a lack of bipartisanship for refusing to proceed with a promised reform.
He said there was "evidence of religious discrimination", including a senior Catholic figure he knew who had been abused for "walking down the street dressed as a Catholic". He said he'd spoken to "women who've been spat on for wearing a hijab in the street".The debate over LGBT staff and students in religious schools is back this week.
Religious leaders defending the ability of religious schools to discriminate tend to cop criticism. That can include leaders of the Jewish and Islamic faiths. The prime minister pressed ahead without bipartisanship on the Voice. The result was months of community division and an overwhelming No vote. The bruises are still being felt.
But beyond that, Dutton isn't saying what Albanese should do on religious freedoms. When asked several times to state his own position, he would not. Nor would Dutton speculate on whether he would take any policy on this to the next election. He chose not to pursue it in Question Time at all. Some won't stomach any watering down of the rights of religious schools. They call it a "red line". Others have been willing to cross the floor to support trans kids. Dutton may be reluctant to re-open this can of worms. Plenty of his colleagues would prefer the issue was never raised again.
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