The Rationalist Society of Australia has called on members of the Tasmanian Parliament to examine, through a committee process, the appropriateness of observing exclusively Christian prayers each day. 

In a letter to all members of the state’s House of Assembly and Legislative Council (read letter below), RSA Executive Director Si Gladman told MPs that now was the right time for both chambers to consider more appropriate models for commencing daily proceedings.

Mr Gladman urged the respective chambers to examine the issue as part of committees reviewing Standing Orders – the rules that govern the proceedings in both chambers.

As reported by the RSA last year, Independent MP Mike Gaffney narrowly failed in having the matter sent to committee review in the upper house, with a tied vote meaning he fell one vote short.

The lower house begins each day by inviting members to either join in reciting aloud two Christian prayers, including the Lord’s Prayer, or stand in silent reflection. In the upper house, the President recites aloud Christian prayers, including the Lord’s Prayer.

In June, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Michelle O’Byrne, told MPs that she felt like singing the Lord’s Prayer. 

In his letter to MPs, Mr Gladman noted that 50 per cent of the Tasmanian population recorded ‘no religion’ at the 2021 Census and said this would climb even higher at the next Census just two years away.

He also argued that the imposition of one religion in a public institution made people feel uncomfortable and even excluded from formal proceedings.

“The practice of starting each day with Christian prayers is deeply important to some elected representatives. But, to others, it has no significance or relevance to their lives. For some, having to participate in a form of religious worship that is not of their faith or beliefs, or from one that may have links with traumatic experiences for an individual, can be particularly difficult,” he said.

“Tasmania has a proud history of breaking down barriers to participation and promoting equality before the law. All elected representatives have a right to feel that they can participate on an equal basis in the practices that are observed at the start of each sitting day.

“Replacing prayers with something more appropriate will also send a signal to the community that the parliament is a welcoming and inclusive place for all, irrespective of religious or non-religious identification.”

Mr Gladman noted that momentum for change had been building at local government level across the country and Tasmania, with a number of councils having replaced prayer rituals with secular and more inclusive practices in recent years.

“Now is the time for change. A committee process will allow members of the Legislative Council to review the current settings and consider models that will foster greater participation and inclusion.” 

We’re actively campaigning for parliaments and local council to replace prayer rituals with secular and more inclusive and welcoming practices. Follow our campaign here.

If you want to support our work, please make a donation or become a member.

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

Letter to Tasmanian MPs, 26 August 2024

Dear [MP name],

I’m writing on behalf of the Rationalist Society of Australia (RSA) – Australia’s oldest freethought organisation promoting reason, secularism, and evidence-based policy – about the practice of the [House of Assembly/Legislative Council] reciting daily prayers.

Now is an ideal time for the [House of Assembly/Legislative Council] to consider the suitability and the appropriateness of observing exclusively Christian prayers at the commencement of each parliamentary sitting day.

We urge you to support undertaking a committee process to examine the practice, with the view to considering more appropriate models fit for Tasmania.

While many traditions are important to parliaments, some traditions simply must change, or be let go, if these institutions are to remain relevant and reflective of the broader community. 

The practice of starting each day with Christian prayers is deeply important to some elected representatives. But, to others, it has no significance or relevance to their lives. For some, having to participate in a form of religious worship that is not of their faith or beliefs, or from one that may have links with traumatic experiences for an individual, can be particularly difficult. The imposition of one religion in a public institution, therefore, can make people feel uncomfortable and even excluded from formal proceedings.

The practice also fails to reflect the immense diversity of the Tasmanian community. The [House of Assembly/Legislative Council] introduced prayers at a time when the Tasmanian population was almost universally Christian. But, today, most Tasmanians are not. Indeed, at the 2021 Census, Christians made up less than half of the Tasmanian population, and 50 per cent of Tasmanians recorded that they had no religion. Given the trend away from religion, this figure will be even higher at the next Census – just two years away.

Tasmania has a proud history of breaking down barriers to participation and promoting equality before the law. All elected representatives have a right to feel that they can participate on an equal basis in the practices that are observed at the start of each sitting day.

Replacing prayers with something more appropriate will also send a signal to the community that the parliament is a welcoming and inclusive place for all, irrespective of religious or non-religious identification.

Momentum for change on this issue has been building nationwide and also within the Tasmanian community. A number of local councils have listened to the concerns of their residents and replaced prayers with secular and more inclusive practices at the opening of their meetings. In Tasmania, only a small number of councils are reciting prayer rituals.

Now is the time for change. A committee process will allow members of the [House of Assembly/Legislative Council] to review the current settings and consider models that will foster greater participation and inclusion. 

Regards,

Si Gladman

Executive Director, Rationalist Society of Australia