Numerous witnesses from faith-based organisations yesterday addressed the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry, which was instigated by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in November 2016. According the inquiry’s website, Ms Bishop asked the committee to inquire into and report on “The status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief”.

Broken Bay Bishop Peter Comensoli told the inquiry yesterday that religious people need to be able to lawfully express their views in “all dimensions of their life”.

He said there could be no freedom of religion without the freedom to exercise their beliefs “individually, or in community; privately or publicly”.

The parliamentary inquiry is separate to the Ruddock review of religious freedoms, which was established in November 2017, following the Yes result of the national marriage postal survey. The review has opted for secret hearings as it examines “whether Australian law adequately protects the human right to freedom of religion”. Read more via CathNews