Victorian MPs are adamant the premier’s views are based on principle, not political instincts
Chrissie Foster was right when she said it. She knew it. I knew it. Whether you're a teacher, a doctor – or a priest – there is simply no excuse for not reporting child sexual abuse.With some exceptions, including from conservative commentators and Christian lobby groups, the laws were broadly supported.
Other social reforms that sparked outrage from the church – and defiance by the premier – include the introduction of the nation’s first voluntary assisted dying laws, safe access zones for abortion clinics, protections for LGBTQ+ teachers at religious schools and the criminalisation of gay conversion practices.
In each tussle, Andrews appears to have been the victor, establishing himself as the nation’s most progressive leader and drawing support from particularly younger Victorians, who are less religious than their elders., almost half of people aged 25-34 years reported to have no religion, with the overall proportion of people with no religion rising to 39% .
Catholicism, meanwhile, decreased to 20% of the population , while the proportion of people affiliated with Christianity also dropped from 52% in 2016 to 44% in 2021. It was 60% in 2011. Andrews manages to wedge his opposition, who in defending the church, threaten to alienate their cohort of small-l liberal voters who are generally socially progressive.“He genuinely believes in the separation of church and state and in the principles of fairness and equality,” one MP told Guardian Australia, asking not to be named so they could speak freely.“I think it’s safe to say most Australians – even those who are religious – don’t like extremes,” they say.
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