The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick, has deflected questions about the human rights implications of the institution’s practice of imposing daily acts of Christian worship.

In a letter to the Rationalist Society of Australia last month, Mr Dick said he did not have the power to change the Standing Orders – which require the reading of two prayers, including the Lord’s Prayer, at the opening of each day.

Mr Dick also said the RSA should refer its questions – about whether the practice was consistent with Australia’s international human rights commitments – to Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.

The members of the House of Representatives determine the Standing Orders – the rules that govern proceedings. But the Speaker does have the ability to raise issues for consideration by the House, such as by writing to the parliamentary committee on procedures.

Yesterday, the House’s procedures committee told RSA Executive Director Si Gladman that it had “noted” the RSA’s correspondence on the issue at its recent meeting. In September, Mr Gladman wrote to the committee to raise concerns about the human rights impact and to urge the committee to consider the appropriateness of the practice as part of its inquiry into the maintenance of the standing and sessional orders.

In August, Mr Gladman wrote to Mr Dick, raising concerns about the human rights impact of the House of Representatives’ practice of imposing daily acts of Christian worship.

The RSA argued that the practice breached Australia’s international commitments regarding the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as it alienated many people and erected barriers to equal participation in a public institution.

In July, the RSA raised the issue in a submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (Fourth Cycle) into Australia’s human rights. The submission – supported by another eight organisations – listed the imposition of prayers in parliaments as an example of discriminatory and unfair treatment of non-religious Australians in government institutions and programs.

The RSA asked Mr Dick whether the House would now consider the human rights impact of the practice and seek legal advice in regards to Australia’s international human rights commitments.

In reply, Mr Dick said the House, in adopting the Standing Orders, had acted under the power conferred by section 50 of the Constitution.

“The requirement to read prayers at the commencement of proceedings, and the form of words to be used, are set out in the House’s standing orders (the rules of the House),” he wrote.

“My role as the Speaker is to uphold the standing orders, and it is not within the power of the Speaker to make changes to the standing orders. Amending the standing orders is a matter for the House as a whole.

“I note that in adopting the standing orders to govern the conduct of its business, the House has acted under the power conferred by section 50 of the Constitution.” 

In letters to Mr Dick and Senate President Sue Lines, the RSA argued that both houses of parliament should aspire to set an example for the community by upholding Australia’s international human rights commitments. President Lines has not yet responded to the letter.

In September, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the RSA that the government acknowledged parliament needed to “represent a diverse Australian community” but that it did “not propose to seek a change to existing arrangements” regarding the prayers.

 The Rationalist Society of Australia is actively 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.

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Letter from Speaker Dick, 18 September 2025

Dear Mr Gladman

Thank you for your email regarding prayers in the House of Representatives and for your kind words of congratulations. 

The requirement to read prayers at the commencement of proceedings, and the form of words to be used, are set out in the House’s standing orders (the rules of the House). My role as the Speaker is to uphold the standing orders, and it is not within the power of the Speaker to make changes to the standing orders. Amending the standing orders is a matter for the House as a whole.

I note that in adopting the standing orders to govern the conduct of its business, the House has acted under the power conferred by section 50 of the Constitution. Questions regarding Australia’s human rights commitments may be more appropriately directed to the Attorney-General, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP.

I trust this information is of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely,

Milton Dick