The required observation of Christian prayers as part of the Tasmanian Parliament’s daily proceedings is “reflective of the expectations of the broader community”, the state’s Opposition Leader has told the Rationalist Society of Australia.

In a letter (see below), Dean Winter, who became leader of the Labor Party following the party’s loss at the March election, said Labor viewed the prayer practice as “an important mark of respect to the Christian faith”.

Mr Winter (pictured) said the Labor Party would not support the RSA’s call for the two houses of the Tasmanian Parliament to examine, through their respective committee processes, the appropriateness of observing exclusively Christian prayers at the opening of each day.

“Traditions are important to Parliaments and in this case are reflective of the expectations of the broader Tasmanian community,” he wrote.

RSA Executive Director Si Gladman said Mr Winter’s comments were out of touch with the Tasmanian community – the least religious population in the country. At the 2021 Census, 50 per cent of Tasmanians identified as not religious.

“Dean Winter may like to think that imposing Christian prayers at the opening of parliament each day is reflective of the Tasmanian community, but, clearly, he is out of touch with most Tasmanians on this issue. And I’m sure many Labor MPs, party members and supporters would agree with us on the need for secular reform,” said Mr Gladman.

“The majority of Tasmanians are not religious. The state has the largest non-religious population in the country, and that is only going to climb even higher at the next Census in 2026. It is time that the parliament recognised the great diversity of the Tasmanian community and introduced a practice that is secular and welcoming of all people.”

In August, the RSA wrote to all members of Tasmania’s House of Assembly and Legislative Council, urging them to support sending the issue to the committee responsible for reviewing Standing Orders in both houses.

The RSA has received a number of replies from members of parliament in support of the proposal.

In his letter, Mr Winter said the Standing Orders of lower house invite members to “take the time to reflect on their own faith or enjoy a moment of quiet reflection”.

However, the moment of “quiet reflection” occurs while the Speaker and Christian MPs recite aloud Christian prayers, including the Lord’s Prayer.

In the upper house last year, Independent Mike Gaffney narrowly failed in having the prayer issue sent to committee for review. 

The Rationalist Society of Australia is actively lobbying and advocating for prayer rituals to be replaced with more appropriate practices in councils and parliaments. See the latest updates here.

Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.

Image: Dean Winter MP (Facebook)

Letter from Dean Winter MP, 28 August 2024

Dear Si,

Thanks for your email.

Currently at the commencement of each Parliamentary sitting day the Lord’s prayer is read, with Members invited to take the time to reflect on their own faith or enjoy a moment of quiet reflection.

Traditions are important to Parliaments and in this case are reflective of the expectations of the broader Tasmanian community. The Labor Party will not support removal of the Lord’s prayer tradition.

I understand that a small number in our community are not supportive of this practice. Similarly the Greens Party have recently renewed calls to remove the Lord’s Prayer from the daily proceedings in the federal Senate

Labor view this practice in Tasmania’s Parliament as an important mark of respect to the Christian faith and serves as a moment for all Members to stop and reflect on their role as leaders in our State.

Kind regards,

Dean