The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is to develop new resources for use by employers and employees when dealing with freedom of thought, conscience and religion in the workplace.
Human Rights Commissioner, Edward Santow is to lead the work, preparing guidance on how the right is currently protected under Federal anti-discrimination law and including practical advice on how to handle the issues respectfully in Australian workplaces.
Commissioner Santow said the AHRC had supported improving the protection for freedom of thought, conscience and religion for the past 20 years, but emphasised the need to balance freedom of religion with an individual’s right to be protected from experiencing discrimination on other grounds.
“The law is an important protection,” Commissioner Santow said.
“However, we also want to provide practical guidance on how to navigate some of the difficult issues that arise,” he said.
“One person’s freedom can have an impact on other people.”
He said being mindful of that and being as respectful as possible, the guide should show how we interact in workplaces and elsewhere.
He said that was why the Commission would provide resources on how the law protected freedom of thought, conscience and religion in Australian workplaces.
Commissioner Santow said the AHRC would finalise the guidance within the next three months.
“It will be based on the Commission’s complaint-handling experience and community consultations conducted over the past 20 years, and also will note reforms the Commission has advocated to strengthen the current protection for freedom of thought, conscience and religion,” he said.
