A West Australian Labor MP says there is “widespread support” among his colleagues in the state parliament for replacing the institution’s daily Christian prayers with a more inclusive practice.

In a submission made to a committee inquiry examining the Legislative Assembly’s Standing Orders, Dave Kelly, the member for Bassendean and a former minister in the previous McGowan government, warned that the parliament would risk damage to its reputation if it failed to modernise its practices.

He proposed that the Legislative Assembly – where Labor has a thumping majority – replace the daily prayers with a moment of quiet reflection so that members can, according to their own beliefs, reflect on their role as representatives for West Australians.

“Members who wish to say a quiet prayer can still do so. The only practical change will be that other members are not forced to participate in a prayer that is not in accordance with their own beliefs. And, instead, they can reflect in accordance with their own beliefs,” he said.

Kelly (pictured) argued that society had fundamentally changed since the state parliament first began observing prayers in the late 19th century, when the Christian faith was “almost universal” and Indigenous people and women were not able to vote or stand for parliament.

He described Western Australia as a proud multicultural community and noted the rapid rise in Australians identifying as not-religious and also with other non-Christian faiths.

“Now more than ever we should strive to make everyone feel welcome and included,” he said.

“In these circumstances it is no longer appropriate that the institution of the Legislative Assembly (LA) starts each day with a prayer from the Christian religion. It is not inclusive of members of other religions, and it is not inclusive of members of no religion. The daily prayer no longer serves its purpose.”

“To not make this amendment will leave the LA and the Parliament generally at reputational risk. It will reinforce a commonly held view that the Parliament and politicians are out of touch with normal modern life. … Western Australia has changed a lot since the 1890s and the Parliament needs to continually change as well to remain relevant and respected.”

In his submission, Kelly said he had personally canvassed many members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council about his proposal to amend the Standing Orders to remove the prayers.

“There was widespread support for such a change.”

Kelly added that the current practice of observing prayers following the Acknowledgement of Country forced himself and a number of his parliamentary colleagues to also miss the Acknowledgement.

“Universal franchise applies in the Western Australian Parliament and forcing citizens to participate in the Christian religion (or any other) is no longer acceptable or lawful,” he wrote.

“No other workplace in WA starts each day with a prayer except organisations that are explicitly religious in nature, for example Christian schools. The LA is not a religious organisation. No other government institution outside the Parliament starts each day with a prayer.”

Earlier this month, the Rationalist Society of Australia made a submission to the Procedure and Privileges Committee’s inquiry into the Legislative Assembly Standing Orders, urging it to replace the prayers with something that better reflects the state’s diverse population.

Kelly, a vocal advocate for the rights of victims of church abuse and for holding churches accountable, said the practice of imposing Christian worship also had a “triggering effect” on survivors of church abuse.

“… you cannot underestimate the triggering effect on survivors when they come to this place and see that the LA starts every day with a Christian prayer,” he wrote.

“We must do everything reasonable to ensure the Parliament demonstrates to survivors that we see them and we stand with them. And that we no longer side with the institutions that are responsible for the abuse.”

As reported by the RSA, a former clerk of the Legislative Assembly also made a submission calling for prayers to be replaced with a period of silent contemplation or reflection.

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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