The Opposition welcomes the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Vilification) Bill 2023 through the NSW Parliament, making it against the law to incite hatred towards, serious contempt for or severe ridicule of someone based on their religious beliefs, affiliation or engagement in religious activities.
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said the Coalition supported the Bill as a natural next step of the work done by the previous government to support and protect the state’s religious and multicultural communities.
“From fighting for religious freedom to banning nazi symbols, and passing legislation to protect against public threats of or incitement to violence, we have been steadfast in our commitment to making NSW safer and more welcoming for people regardless of their religious affiliation or cultural background,” Mr Speakman said.
“It is a foundational principle of the Liberal Party that people’s freedom to worship and come together in celebration of their unique cultures is worth defending. We will tirelessly continue to stand up for communities across NSW and their needs.
“NSW has been the beneficiary of a strong multicultural and multifaith community, and the Opposition supported the legislation to ensure that our communities can continue with the cultural and religious activities without fear of vilification.”
Shadow Attorney General Alister Henskens said people’s freedom to believe or not believe in a religion is a fundamental human right.
“The right to faith is protected in the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and is a well-respected right in many other areas of discourse,” said Mr Henskens.
“People should not be vilified because of their beliefs or their connections with faiths or religious organisations.”
Shadow Multiculturalism Minister Mark Coure said he had been an advocate for addressing a gap that religious stakeholders had been raising, extending vilification protections in the Anti-Discrimination Act to include religion and providing an important protection for people of faith.
“This approach allows our community to continue to express and challenge views in a peaceful and productive way, with one of the exemptions being good faith discussion and debate” Mr Coure said.
“This is something that has cemented NSW as the multicultural success story it is today, ensuring that people can carry on their own religious practices and expression. NSW has embraced migrants since the earliest days of settlement and we continue to welcome new communities, setting an example to the rest of the world as a peaceful and harmonious multicultural society.”