Faith leaders in New South Wales have turned down opportunities to advocate for the removal of religious-based discrimination in government bodies, including in the case of an atheist leader blocked from serving on an advisory committee.

The New South Wales Faith Affairs Council has rejected a request to advocate to the government for the overturning of a decision that prevented Steve Marton, the leader of Sydney Atheists, from becoming a member of the Faith Affairs Council.

The Faith Affairs Council will also not ask the Minns government to remove the discriminatory practice of imposing daily Christian prayers in parliament.

In a letter to the Rationalist Society of Australia (RSA) (see letter below), Right Reverend Michael Stead (pictured), chair of the Faith Affairs Council, suggested that the RSA should instead take up the cases of Mr Marton and parliamentary prayers with the Minister for Multiculturalism, Stephen Kamper.

Late last year, the RSA wrote to all 19 Faith Affairs Council members asking them to help overturn the religious-based discrimination in the government’s decision to block non-religious and ex-religious representation from the advisory body. The RSA reminded them that freedom of thought, conscience and religion was an equal right for all people and protected religious and non-religious people equally.

In June, the RSA again wrote to all Faith Affairs Council members calling on them to advocate for the inclusion of non-religious and ex-religious representation after documents obtained by the RSA revealed the advisory body declared its support for secular democracy that “makes space for people of all faiths and none”.

The members of the Faith Affairs Council come from faith groups that have, for a number of years, been demanding that the federal government introduce “religious freedom” laws to prevent discrimination on religious grounds.

The RSA had warned the Labor Party – before and after the state election in 2023 – that an advisory body of only faith leaders would further privilege their already powerful voices and marginalise the voices of non-religious and ex-religious citizens.

The Minns government rejected Mr Marton’s nomination last year, even while he had endorsement from a Christian minister.

In June, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman also asked Faith Affairs Council members if they would recommend that the government replace daily Christian worship in parliament with a more appropriate, secular and inclusive practice that better reflected the diverse New South Wales community.

In response, Rt Rev Stead said “the scope of our activities as a Council is limited to this consultative role.”

“It would be more appropriate for you to raise representation on the Council and prayers in Parliament with the NSW Government,” he said.

However, documents obtained from the Faith Affairs Council’s initial meetings show that its members have proactively proposed policy matters for the government to pursue – such as on education, voluntary assisted dying, and the proposed Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill.

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

Letter from Right Reverend Michael Stead, 4 July 2024

Dear Mr Gladman

Thank you for your email correspondence dated 3 June 2024, addressed to me in my capacity as the Chair of the NSW Faith Affairs Council (‘the Council’) and copied to other members of the Council. As Council Chair, I have been authorised to respond on the Council’s behalf.

Your correspondence was noted by the Council at its meeting on 3 July 2024. Under its terms of reference, the Council has been established as a formal consultative mechanism for the NSW

Government, in order to improve its understanding and competency in relation to policies, programs and services that affect religious communities and people of faith in New South Wales. The scope of our activities as a Council is limited to this consultative role.

It would be more appropriate for you to raise representation on the Council and prayers in Parliament with the NSW Government. Should you wish to do so, you can direct your enquiries to The Hon. Stephen Kamper MP, the Minister for Multiculturalism, at office@kamper.minister.nsw.gov.au.

Thank you for bringing this matter to the Council’s attention.

Yours sincerely

Rt Rev’d Dr Michael Stead