Christian lobbyists will urge Australian governments to set up “faith offices” based on the one being established by the Trump Administration.

Speaking on Christian radio program 20Twenty this week, Greg Bondar, of Christian Voice Australia, praised President Donald Trump’s announcement of a White House Faith Office and welcomed the idea of the body having a say over government legislation.

Mr Bondar, who has often talked on the radio program about the access he has to government decision-makers, said he would write to all state governments to urge them to follow Trump’s example.

When the radio program’s host suggested that it “wouldn’t be beyond the pale” for the federal government and state governments to establish faith offices, Mr Bondar replied: 

“It would not. In point of fact … through Christian Voice Australia, as you know, we are writing to all the state governments to say, ‘Hey, consider what Trump has done. Would you consider setting up a commissioner for religion, a commissioner for faith, or whatever it might be?’” he said.

Speaking about the US Faith Office under evangelical pastor Paula White, Mr Bondar said he was “100 per cent” for it.

“The real issue here is: with the Faith Office, it means that anything, in terms of legislation will be bypassed, I think, by the Faith Office,” he said.

“In other words, if a piece of legislation comes forward, I suspect Trump will be saying to the Faith Office, ‘Hey, what impact does this have from a spiritual, biblical point of view on the American evangelical and, in particular, the religious environment here?’

“So I think that is going to be a real critical office because they’ll have to use it in terms of drafting legislation into the future.”

Mr Bondar said he originally pitched the idea to the Albanese government but did not receive a response.

He has also been busy spruiking Trump’s broader agenda with Australian politicians.

“I’ve had a chat with a few of the politicians in Canberra and interstate, as well. But isn’t it interesting that whatever happens in the US will eventually filter through to Australia. It will come to us,” he said.

“We should be supporting what Trump is doing to ensure that our Christian foundations are fulfilled.”

Last week, President Trump also announced the establishment of an “anti-Christian bias task force” to fight the “persecution of Christians.”

Speaking today, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman said religious groups already had far too much influence over public policy in Australia, especially given the rapidly declining relevance of religion in the community.

“Political leaders and governments need to publicly reject these efforts to further entrench religious privilege and undermine secular government in Australia. Our governments should be secular and should treat people equally,” he said.

The RSA has been campaigning against the New South Wales Faith Affairs Council, set up by the Minns government to advise government ministers on matters relating to religion. The body has further privileged religious voices in the state, excluding non-religious representation. When asked to advocate for the removal of religious-based discrimination against non-religious citizens, the NSW Faith Affairs Council has declined to do so.

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