Synod on Religious Discrimination

The Dean’s Correspondence: to the Cathedral’s federal MP - 30 September 2025

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

As always, I again assure you of our prayers for your work in Parliament, especially as Member for Sydney where our Cathedral is located.

I write to advise you of the resolution of the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney carried earlier in September. The Sydney Anglican Synod has representatives from over 250 parishes and several dozen Anglican Schools, as well as Anglicare, across Sydney, the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and Blue Mountains. I draw your attention to its terms…

Religious Discrimination

‘Synod, noting that –

(i)    there continues to be no protection from discrimination on the basis of religious belief or activity under NSW or Federal anti-discrimination law,

(ii)   the Federal government has promised to implement a Religious Discrimination Bill if there is bi-partisan support,

(iii)   the NSW Law Reform Commission (LRC) is currently conducting a review into the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) which considers introducing protections against religious discrimination, but that the Consultation Paper also contemplates sweeping reforms that would adversely impact people of faith and religious bodies, and

(iv)   without Federal or State protection, laws imposing civil and criminal liability for religious practices introduced in other jurisdictions in Australia, become precedents for adverse reforms of NSW law,

therefore calls on –

(a)   Synod members to inform themselves and their parishes regarding these issues by reading the Diocesan Submission to the LRC Review, which can be found at this link,

(b)   Synod members and all parishioners to write to, and where appropriate, meet with, their local State and Federal members to impress upon them the importance of protecting people against religious discrimination and maintaining the ability of religious bodies to operate according to their doctrines, tenets and beliefs,

(c)    the Federal government to recommence discussions with the Federal opposition to find bi-partisan agreement on a Religious Discrimination Bill.

At the federal election earlier this year, the Prime Minister made a commitment that “religious freedom will not go backwards”, and that Labor would progress a religious discrimination bill in collaboration with faith leaders, via bipartisanship with the Coalition and not a deal with the Greens.

I am looking forward to the Government keeping these promises and would be glad to hear progress.

Yours sincerely, 

Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney