SHANE Rattenbury says he will move to amend the Discrimination Amendment Bill to include laws to protect people who are the subject of religious vilification.

Shane says that under ACT laws it is unlawful to vilify someone on the grounds of their gender identity, HIV/AIDS status, their race, their sexuality and – with the passing of this bill – on the basis of a disability. But it remains lawful to vilify someone on the basis of their religion.

“The lack of religious vilification laws in the ACT is a glaring omission and the ACT Greens believe we should take action to prevent vilification on the basis of a person’s religion. We’ll try to pass these laws in the Assembly, and take the issue to the election if we need to,” Shane said.

“Several years have already passed while the Government reviewed its discrimination and vilification laws. It is unacceptable to wait any longer and we need to take action to help prevent religious vilification and protect Canberra’s inclusive and multicultural community.

“Both the Law Reform Advisory Council (LRAC) and the Human Rights Commission recommended the ACT Government enact religious vilification laws. The Government itself acknowledged the need in 2012. Unfortunately it has failed to take any action.

“Now more than ever we need laws to protect people from religious vilification. We see an increasing number of acts of hatred and intolerance towards Muslims across Australia and across the world.

“The return of Pauline Hanson and the emergence of groups like Reclaim Australia demonstrate that religious intolerance is alive and well in Australia.

“Even here in Canberra, our local Islamic Centre has been vandalised and trashed several times. Houses have been letterboxed with anti-Muslim material and flyers opposing a local mosque because of its “social impact” on “Australian neighbours”.

“This Greens proposal will provide important protections for members of our community and provide a means of redress for people subject to vilification because of their religion.

“It is important to note that there are broad ‘free speech’ exceptions within the Discrimination Act that protect those conducting academic, artistic, scientific or research activity in the public interest.

“Our proposal sends the right message from our Parliament: religious vilification is not acceptable. We do not tolerate it,” concluded Mr Rattenbury.