RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Monday, September 18, 2023

Good morning ,

Back after 10 days away, settling down with a wonderful new man in my life. Thank you to all who wished us well. 

Did you know that governments, on average, lose 1.6% of their support for every year they are in office? Why? Because "Governing means disappointing." (see attached article from the AFR).

Well, as you will see in the articles below, the Labor federal govt is living up to this generalisation. It's backing a parliamentary support group set up to advocate for religious-based chaplaincy in schools, and very nearly entirely abandoned the word "secular" in its policy platform.

And in NSW, the Minns Labor govt has established a Faith Affairs council, which will have no representatives from the one third of the NSW population that have no faith or no interest in faith. This council will report directly to the minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper, who has said the new council is "nation-leading". Does this mean there'll be more faith councils in other states?? Issues the council will advise on include VAD and gay conversion. Check the attached article on this from The Australian.

We shouldn't just sit back on let this happen! Please write to express your disappointment and urge Labor govt's to defend genuine secularism.

Lead stories

It would be wonderful to think having Labor in govt federally would mean secularism would be defended and promoted as the best way to achieve equality between religious and non-religious worldviews. Alas, not true. As this new report by the RSA clearly demonstrates, a Labor govt will not only tolerate continuing discrimination against the non-religious but turn a blind eye when such discrimination is pointed out. 

The RSA has provided a copy of the report to all federal, state and territory education departments, and has asked:

1. Whether the recruitment practices for NSWP workers in public schools as outlined in the report accords with the department’s policies; and
2. What steps the department will take to address the systemic religious discrimination against NSWP workers in public schools.

Further, the RSA has put in a submission to the federal government’s Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System, pointing out how, for some time, Australian governments have not only allowed but orchestrated religious missionary activities in the government education system. Don't believe us? Check out the 2 articles below!

Labor MPs are part of a new parliamentary 'friendship' group set up to advocate for religious-based chaplaincy in schools!

And Jason Clare, the education minister, has backed the new religous 'friendship' group!

Please write to Clare to express your disappointment. Check our article for some points to add in your letter:

Other stories of interest

Pope's visit to France stirs debate over immigration, secularism

"Debates over France's particular brand of secularism, known as laicite, regularly inflame political talk-shows, from whether nativity scenes can be placed in public buildings, or if the state should still observe religious holidays."

Majority of Scottish voters support assisted dying bill, poll reports

A huge 77% of Scots favour introducing VAD - including a majority of Church of Scotland members, Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

The Cancellation of Bertrand Russell

If, like me, you admire Bertrand Russell's philosophy and dissenting social views, this article might come as a surprise. His appointment to New York University was challenged in court - and he lost! The New York Supreme Court ruling that the appointment “adversely affects public health, safety, and morals”.

French court upholds ban on girls wearing abayas in schools

French president Emmanual Macron parked criticism from the left when he defended the abaya ban and said there was a “minority” in France who “hijack a religion and challenge the republic and secularism”, leading to the “worst consequences” such as the murder three years ago of teacher Samuel Paty for showing caricatures of the prophet Muhammad during a civics education class .. 

Got a comment on any of these stories? 

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au

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