Stand against a licence to discriminate

Imagine turning up to the pharmacy to buy regular your contraceptive pill and being turned away because the pharmacist doesn't believe people should use contraception.

Imagine your workmates facing no consequences if they say ‘your disability is God’s punishment for sin’, or that ‘women should not be in positions of leadership over men’.  

Attorney General Christian Porter and Scott Morrison have released a Religious Discrimination Bill that could make this harm a more frequent occurrence - by allowing one person’s faith to override another person’s right to be protected from discrimination.

Proposed provisions in the latest version of this bill would increase barriers to healthcare access - including contraception, the morning-after pill, fertility treatment. And a 'no consequences clause' would open avenues for attack on women, LGBTIQ+ people, minority faith communities and people with disabilities.

Will you join the campaign to stop this legislation becoming law? Together we can show the Senators who will decide whether this legislation becomes law - that voters oppose a licence to discriminate and want laws to protect everyone equally. Will you sign the petition to join the campaign?

This petition is being run by Fair Agenda in partnership with Equality Australia and Democracy in Colour.

 

More information (click to view) 

Under proposed 'conscientious objection' provisions - any patient’s right to timely and unbiased healthcare would become less important than a health practitioner’s personal religious beliefs about a given procedure. And professional guidelines or employer policies that sought to ensure patients' access to procedures they need would be open to challenge, creating enormous complexity and uncertainty for health services, and making it easier for doctors with religious beliefs to not only refuse to provide care themselves, but also to refuse to provide information about where patients can access unbiased advice.
Religious Discrimination bill could create barriers to women's healthcare, advocates warn, The Guardian, 10 October 2019.
'Sinful and dirty': Fears for women under new religious freedom laws, The Age, 4 October 2019.

Help us get to 5,000 signatures

3,309 SIGNATURES

Dear Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other Members of Parliament, 

Discrimination causes incredible harm - to physical and mental health, and to an individual’s sense of acceptance and belonging. 

Given that, we strongly support amending laws so all people – including people of faith – are protected from harm. 

We need laws that ensure people of faith, women and LGBTIQ+ people are equally protected from discrimination and harm. 

That means laws that provide a shield of protection to those who need it, but that don’t hand organisations or individuals a license to discriminate against and attack others. 

We know that LGBTIQ+ people and women are the most likely to be negatively impacted by religious anti-discrimination laws which don’t get this balance right. 

We strongly urge you and every Member of Parliament, to consult with all potential affected communities and ensure everyone is equally protected. 

Signed,

Fair Agenda will email petition signers from time to time with important updates

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Latest activity

Nishita , 2042  /  signed 2019-12-23 13:58:50 +1100
Tonnia , 2745  /  signed 2019-12-23 13:36:53 +1100
"I believe all people have the right to live free from discrimination. Society and acceptance depends on this basic principle."
Susan , 3071  /  signed 2019-12-23 13:27:49 +1100
Kaye , 3418  /  signed 2019-12-23 12:16:23 +1100
Bianca , 2518  /  signed 2019-12-23 12:04:34 +1100
Alice , 4701  /  signed 2019-12-23 11:47:54 +1100
"The Religious Discrimination bill is completely unacceptable. No one should feel unsafe in their place of work, school, or general community. People should not be able to justify discriminating against people by claiming it follows their religion. Everybody should have access to necessary medical treatment. Women should be allowed to access contraceptives and abortions – they should be allowed to choose as it’s their bodies; they deserve autonomy. People should be allowed to marry whomever they want – it is a human right."
Ella , 3135  /  signed 2019-12-23 11:44:14 +1100
"Ella Birt"
Rachelle , 4209  /  signed 2019-12-23 11:26:41 +1100
"I oppose this bill because no one should be able to discriminate another, not based on race, sex, ability or in particular religion. There is no place for religious beliefs to stand in the way of access to health care in Australia, not in 2019/2020. It is outrageous that our PMs personal beliefs could change our laws. He should have no standing in submitting this legislation, none whatsoever. His personal prejudices should not allow him to change our country"
Sara , 3094  /  signed 2019-12-23 10:19:57 +1100
Nicolette , 2206  /  signed 2019-12-23 10:00:08 +1100
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