Rationalist Society of Australia

Christian lobbyists pushing for Trump-style ‘faith offices’ in Australian governments

Si Gladman — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 01:17:25 +0000

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 […]

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Non-religious AFL players deserve same opportunity to talk about their worldview, RSA tells league

Si Gladman — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 03:24:45 +0000

The Rationalist Society of Australia has urged the Australian Football League to ensure non-religious footballers have the same opportunity as their religious colleagues to speak about their worldview on the league’s own media channels. The RSA has written to the AFL following the publication of an article on the afl.com.au website last week – titled […]

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Defence Force failing to meet wellbeing needs of non-religious personnel, RSA tells committee

Si Gladman — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 08:48:21 +0000

The Australian Defence Force is failing to meet the wellbeing needs of its non-religious service personnel, the Rationalist Society of Australia has told a federal parliament committee. In a submission to an inquiry of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman said it was possible that thousands […]

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Submission to Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Si Gladman — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 08:15:12 +0000

This is our submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade’s ‘Inquiry into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2023-24’. Find out more about the inquiry here. 3 February 2025 This is a submission by the Rationalist Society of Australia (RSA) to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and […]

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Western Australia won’t act on coercive control in damaging cults

Si Gladman — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 23:06:45 +0000

The West Australian government has “no intention” of expanding coercive control laws to apply to harmful religious cults. In a letter to the Rationalist Society of Australia this week, the state’s attorney-general, John Quigley (pictured), said the Cook government’s focus was on criminalising coercive control within the context of family and domestic violence. Meanwhile, the […]

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RSA questions DFAT over top diplomat’s exaggerated claims about faith in Australia

Si Gladman — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 03:22:13 +0000

The foreign ministry has defended Australia’s focus on religion in its bilateral relationship with Papua New Guinea but has not responded to criticism that a top diplomat exaggerated claims about the importance of faith to Australians. In late December, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), writing on behalf of Minister Penny Wong (pictured), […]

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Queensland education minister confirms new funding will allow choice over chaplaincy

Si Gladman — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 02:42:06 +0000

Any new funding to boost student wellbeing in Queensland’s public schools will not be used exclusively for religious-based chaplaincy, the state’s newly appointed education minister has confirmed. In a letter to the Rationalist Society of Australia earlier this month, education minister John-Paul Langbroek (pictured) said that additional state government funding towards the National Student Wellbeing […]

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South Australian government gives no guarantee on abolishing blasphemy, sacrilege

Si Gladman — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 02:35:40 +0000

The South Australian government will “consider” the Rationalist Society of Australia’s call for it to abolish blasphemy and sacrilege laws. In a letter last week, the state’s Attorney-General, Kyam Maher, told RSA Executive Director Si Gladman that he appreciated hearing the RSA’s views on the issue. However, Mr Maher gave no guarantee that his government […]

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