Australian Law Reform Commission Update

Donvale Christian College is a member of the Australian Association of Christian Schools (AACS), as all other Christian Education National (CEN) schools are. AACS acts as our advocate in the political sphere. 

It has been partnering closely with Christian Schools Australia and the Queensland-based Associated Christian Schools (ACS) in the ongoing response to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s work culminating in the recent presentation of its report on Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws on 21 March.

The final report brought this initial response from AACS .

Open Letter Sent To The Prime Minister With Response To ALRC Report

Vanessa Cheng, Executive Officer at AACS signed an Open Letter along with leaders from many faith communities to Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, the Prime Minister of Australia, sharing that we are are deeply disappointed with the proposed reforms outlined by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) in their Final Report.

 

The letter stated that as Faith Leaders, we are disheartened that our good-faith engagement with the ALRC in response to the interim Consultation Report seems to have had no effect whatsoever in the Commission’s appreciation of the unique nature of religious schools and religious educational institutions. 

 

The recommendations in the Final Report, like the proposals put forward by the ALRC in the Consultation Paper, seek to place severe limits on the ability of religious schools to build authentic communities of faith.

 

The letter was signed by representatives from Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Australian National Imams Council, United Shia Islamic Foundation, Maronites of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, Australian Jewish Association, Presbyterian Church of Australia, Associated Christian Schools, Australian Baptist Churches, Christian Schools Australia, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Islamic Schools Association of Australia, Australian Ahl Al Bait Islamic Centre, Fellowship of Evangelical Churches, NSW Council of Churches, Islamic Council of Victoria, Australian Christian Churches (NSW), Australian Christian Churches,  The Council of the Ministers of Korean Churches in Sydney Australia, Sydney Holy City Movement, Acts Global Churches, Freedom for Faith, Human Rights Law Alliance and Sydney Chinese Christian Churches Association.

Action since 21 March

Since the release of this report, the AACS EO, Vanessa Cheng, and the CSA advocacy lead, Mark Spence, have made concerted efforts to establish clarity with the Albanese government. AACS and CSA released a statement on Monday, which I reproduce here:

Christian Schools Welcome Prime Minister’s Commitment To Protecting Religious Freedom 

Christian schools have welcomed the commitment from the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, that religious freedom protections for faith groups “Will not go backwards while I’m Prime Minister of Australia”.

 

The commitment, made in a meeting of key faith leaders and representatives of Christian schools on Friday, provides some welcome relief to Christian schools and their communities in the light of the release of the recent controversial final report from the Australian Law Reform Commission.

 

Australian Association of Christian Schools Executive Officer Vanessa Cheng said schools and their communities have been extremely concerned since the release of the Commission’s report.

 

“Our schools are growing, as parents are choosing an education for their children that reflects their values and beliefs. There are more than a third of students in Australia being educated by non-government schools, the vast majority of them religious,” she said.

 

“We made it clear to the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General that the legislative package the government is considering would remove the clarity and confidence the existing protections provide for religious schools and their communities”.

 

“It’s all about protecting freedom of choice for parents when selecting a school for their children,” she said pointing out that teachers have this choice too.  

 

“Teachers who don’t agree with our values and beliefs have many other employment options within the context of Australia’s diverse educational sector,” she said, “which we see as a strength to be celebrated and protected, not undermined by the removal of fundamental existing protections.”

 

Christian Schools Australia Director of Public Policy Mark Spencer said that the Prime Minister’s commitment was welcomed.

 

“It was encouraging to hear the Prime Minister recognise that religious bodies, including schools, employing staff based on their faith was not discrimination. His commitment that protections for religious bodies and people of faith would not go backwards provides a measure of relief to concerned schools and their parents.”

 

“We now need the Prime Minister to take action on this commitment and release draft legislation that will provide clear protections based on international law and providing certainty that Christian and other religious schools can teach their beliefs, employ staff who share their beliefs, and operate the school in accordance with those beliefs.”

 

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s promise,” he said, “but it needs to be backed up by action.”

 

Christian schools continue to call for a bipartisan approach to religious freedom laws and protections to allow faith-based schools to continue providing quality education to hundreds of thousands of Australian parents who make this choice for their children.  

(For all AACS news, go to https://www.aacs.net.au/news)  

“Faith in Our Future” – interested in hearing more?

“Faith in Our Future” will be a series of public meetings, across Australia during the next month, run together by AACS and CSA.  

In Melbourne, this will be at Waverley Christian College on Wednesday 22 May, 6.30 for 7.00pm, 1248 High St Rd, Wantirna South.

Register at https://mychristianschool.au/melbourne 

In a recent letter to all CEN Principals and Boards, Vanessa Cheng expressed the need for attendance this way (permission given to share this here):

“Naturally, staff and parents from your school will be concerned about what the future holds. And what can be done. The night is for them—to encourage them in Christ, to keep them informed, and suggest actions they can take.

We also expect several Parliamentarians to join us. And hear our common concerns.

It’s vital that you, or another member of your school’s leadership team, can be there with us. We need your support to show our political representatives how many people value the Christian faith of teachers and staff.”

Finally

I strongly encourage all that are interested to take an active role in the next phase of the campaign to maintain our College’s capacity to appoint Christian staff to all positions. 

As legislation is being drafted, this continues to be a time for fervent prayer that should a final version of the legislation be tabled in the life of this parliament, that it will be, at the very least, in line with the promises made by the Prime Minister in his recent discussions with AACS and CSA.  

Shalom.