Prime Minister hoping to collaborate with all MP’s on religious freedom bill

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he is hoping to work “carefully” with all MP’s and the Labor Party to finalise the Coalition’s plans to protect religious freedom.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the government is preparing to put new laws to Parliament as early as 22 July to prevent discrimination on the basis of someone's faith. The draft law is designed to ensure people of faith gain similar protections to existing laws that aim to prevent discrimination on the basis of race or gender.

Attorney-General Christian Porter is preparing to hold workshops with backbenchers in Canberra this week before consulting churches and others in the weeks ahead to finalise the first version of the bill. The draft law includes the appointment of a religious discrimination commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Morrison told the Coalition party room on 3 July that he wanted to work "carefully" through the issue and to consult Labor on the changes. The Prime Minister said he did not want the religious freedom law to be an issue that would divide Australians because it was personal for many people.

Follow mnnews.today on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.