The Australian Labor Party has released a draft platform for comment by Party members.
The deadline for submissions is June 23.
You can read the full platform and submit responses here
Your submission is important
It is important that lots of branch members make submissions to the process, so that our voice is heard. Many well-organised lobbies are submitting in favour of, or against, specific aspects of the platform.
It is just as important to write in support of parts of the policy you are passionate about, as to raise any concerns.
We encourage you to write a short submission highlighting the aspects of the platform that you support.
A (non-exclusive) list of topics you might want to consider include:
- Refugees: pages 96-106
- International Aid: pages 72-73
- Climate: pages 34ff
- Aged Care and the Pension: pages 48-49
- Social Welfare: page 51
- Affordable Housing: pages 51-51
- Education funding, and non-Government (including faith-based) schools: page 30
You can read the full platform and submit responses here
Faith communities and religious freedom
In particular, we are encouraged by the supportive and well-balanced language discussing multi-cultural and multi-faith Australia, and the need for religious freedom in line with to our international obligations (ICCPR Article 18 – see full text below).
In your submission, you may want to make the following points:
- A multi-cultural society needs to be a multi-faith society, where all faiths are welcomed into the public space
- The importance of religious freedom for all people of faith
- Support for the proposed wording of the policy platform
- Particular support for upholding ICCPR Article 18
- The importance (as recognised in the draft platform) for people of faith to gather together and form organisations and institutions that act in accordance with that faith.
ALP Platform Chapter 5, Sections 31 & 41-45
- Modern Australia has been built through our multiculturalism. Labor is the party for, and of, multiculturalism. Labor is determined to ensure that the benefits of our diversity are fully realised. This requires political leadership supporting multiculturalism, greater engagement with the full diversity of culturally, religiously, and linguistically diverse Australians, and a commitment to secure inclusive institutions to ensure no-one is left behind.
- Labor believes that people of faith deserve the same human rights, equality, respect and safety as every other Australian. No Australian should ever be vilified, discriminated against or subjected to violence or threats of violence because of that person’s religion or religious belief. Labor will work to ensure that Australia’s anti-vilification laws and discrimination framework are fit for purpose.
- Labor believes in and supports the right of all Australians to have and to manifest their religion or beliefs, and the right of religious organisations to act in accordance with the doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings of their faith.
- Labor will protect and promote the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion in accordance with Australia’s international obligations, including our obligations under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- Labor recognises that the freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief, to change a religion or belief, or not to have or adopt a religion or belief, is absolute. Moreover, Labor believes in and supports the right of all Australians to have and to manifest their religion or beliefs, and the right of religious organisations to act in accordance with the doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings of their faith. Such rights should be protected by law and, in accordance with Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, subject only to such limitations as are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
- Labor believes that people of faith deserve the same human rights, equality, respect and safety as every other Australian. No Australian should ever be vilified, discriminated against or subjected to violence or threats of violence because of that person’s religion or religious belief. Labor will therefore ensure that Australia’s anti-vilification laws are fit for purpose.
ICCPR Article 18
The full text of Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which is referenced in sections 43 and 44 above:
- Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
- No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.
- Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
- The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.