Tasmania’s conversion practices bill could be voted on as soon as next week. Faith leaders are negotiating with every party. If you live in Tasmania, this is your last chance to write to your MP. It takes a few minutes: contactyourmp.org.au

This week the WA Government introduced its Equal Opportunity Bill. On religious freedom, it is as bad as Victoria’s laws – and in places worse. A Christian school could ask new staff whether they share its faith, but not whether they live by it. Churches would have to prove to a tribunal that acting on their beliefs is “reasonable and proportionate”. And new vilification laws give no specific protection to religious teaching. Freedom for Faith is preparing a response.

If a law can't explain what it means by "harm", how can churches comply with it? Mike Southon on Tasmania's conversion practices bill, the Digital Duty of Care bill, Allegra Spender's bill and Victorian candidate forums. Watch now. In Tasmania? contactyourmp.org.au

Can a Christian school employ staff who share its faith? Can a church teach on marriage online without being treated as harmful? These are the questions at the heart of Secular Challenges to Living with Christian Conviction, presented by Freedom for Faith and ISCAST. Speakers include Nick Spencer (Theos, UK), Margaret Chambers (Institute of Public Affairs) and the Hon Christopher Beale KC, with a panel chaired by Dr Chris Mulherin. Saturday 31 October, 9am–5pm Thomas Carr Centre, Catholic Theological College, Melbourne Tickets are now available: events.humanitix.com/fff-mel…

One part of the Digital Duty of Care Bill has become broader, not narrower. Under the draft, material had to be intended to cause serious harm by menacing or harassing someone. That intention requirement has now been removed. Meanwhile, platforms face heavy penalties, with no requirement to weigh freedom of religion. Lawful religious teaching should never be confused with harassment simply because people disagree with it.

Please pray for Tasmania. Every MP has been sent a legal analysis of the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill, written and coordinated by Freedom for Faith and signed by 17 church and faith leaders. Pray that MPs will: Read the analysis carefully. Understand what the Bill would mean for parents, pastors and churches. Insist on a law whose meaning is clear. Have the courage to fix it before they vote. The coming weeks matter. Please keep praying. Read the analysis: contactyourmp.org.au/tas-cp-…

The Digital Duty of Care Bill has now been introduced, and it's better than September's draft. But one gap stands out. The Bill expressly protects journalism, academic research, art, education and public-health material. Religious teaching isn't on the list. Why should lawful religious teaching be the exception? See what has changed: freedomforfaith.org.au/artic…

Why do churches host candidate forums? Because commitments made in public can be held to later. In the 2025 federal election, churches asked candidates where they stood on religious freedom, and faith leaders asked both major parties for commitments. This week, those commitments are standing between Christian schools and a Bill that would weaken their protections. Churches in Victoria and NSW are preparing forums now: meetyourcandidates.org.au

Christians are increasingly told their convictions have no place in public debate. Conversion-practices laws, speech laws built on vague ideas of "harm", and a proposed Digital Duty of Care are leaving many believers unsure what they can still say, teach or pray. Some are deciding it's safer to say nothing. Silence is not the answer. Clear thinking is. Secular Challenges to Living with Christian Conviction is a one-day conference from Freedom for Faith and ISCAST. It will equip you to understand these pressures and respond with confidence and grace. Speakers include Nick Spencer (Theos, UK), Margaret Chambers (Institute of Public Affairs), the Hon Christopher Beale KC, Mark Sneddon and Mike Southon, with a closing panel chaired by Dr Chris Mulherin. Saturday 31 October, 9am–5pm Thomas Carr Centre, Catholic Theological College, 278 Victoria Parade, Melbourne Tickets are now available: events.humanitix.com/fff-mel…

A new Bill in Federal Parliament would significantly weaken protections for faith-based schools. It would narrow schools' right to employ staff who share their faith, and restrict religious codes of conduct. But before the 2025 election, Labor promised that “legal protections for people of faith will not go backwards” and that reform in this area should be bipartisan. This Bill is not bipartisan. And senior Government offices have confirmed those commitments still stand. Promises on the record matter. Read more: freedomforfaith.org.au/artic…

Under Tasmania's Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill, any conversion practice directed towards a child becomes "child abuse", even if it was consensual and caused no harm. A reasonable suspicion alone can require a church or school to notify the regulator within three business days. Organisations must take steps to eliminate conversion practices, and can be held criminally responsible for offences by their employees, contractors and volunteers. That is a heavy label, and a heavy duty, built on a definition no-one can pin down. The Bill changed, but the job isn't finished. Read the full analysis: contactyourmp.org.au/tas-cp-…

A detailed legal analysis of Tasmania's Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill has been sent to every Tasmanian MP. Written and coordinated by Freedom for Faith, it is signed by 17 church and faith leaders, including the Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, the Australian National Imams Council and the Salvation Army. Their conclusion: the Bill should not proceed in its current form. Its definition doesn't require coercion or harm, disregards consent, and can capture a single conversation. Even after its revisions, it is at least as restrictive as Victoria's law, and in important respects goes further. A law no-one can explain should not pass. Read the full analysis: contactyourmp.org.au/tas-cp-…

Independent MP Allegra Spender has announced a Bill to change how federal anti-discrimination law applies to religious schools. She says she supports schools hiring staff who share their faith, but opposes them acting on a staff member's sexuality or gender identity – even when that contradicts the faith of the school. That is the gap. A school's culture is set by its teachers and staff every day. For a Christian school to stay Christian, it needs staff who don't just state its beliefs, but uphold and live them. That freedom exists only as an exemption in the Sex Discrimination Act. A single amendment can take it away. Freedom for Faith will read this Bill line by line.

Online speech. Gender and the law. Religious expression. Secular public debate. Christians are already navigating these concerns. On Saturday 31 October, Freedom for Faith and ISCAST are bringing Secular Challenges to Living with Christian Conviction to Melbourne. It is a one-day conference to help Christians understand what is changing, why it matters and how to respond with confidence. Speakers include Nick Spencer, Margaret Chambers, the Hon Christopher Beale KC, Mark Sneddon and Mike Southon, with a panel chaired by Dr Chris Mulherin. Saturday 31 October, 9am–5pm Thomas Carr Centre, Catholic Theological College, Melbourne Tickets are now available: events.humanitix.com/fff-mel…

What does it look like to live with Christian conviction in an increasingly secular Australia? At Freedom for Faith’s Annual Conference with ISCAST on Saturday 31 October, five speakers will tackle that question from different angles: Nick Spencer (Theos, UK), on how secularism and liberalism can be used to exclude religious voices from public debate. Margaret Chambers (Institute of Public Affairs), on the proposed Digital Duty of Care and lawful religious speech online. The Hon Christopher Beale KC (former Victorian Supreme Court justice), on gender theory, the law and Christian organisations. Mark Sneddon, on growing legal restrictions on religious expression, including conversion practices and vilification laws. Mike Southon, on the issues before us and opportunities for political engagement ahead of the Victorian election. Tickets are now available: events.humanitix.com/fff-mel…

Tasmanians – your emails have already helped change this bill. Now there is one question every Tasmanian MP should be able to answer before they vote: Can you clearly explain what is, and is not, a conversion practice under this law? If not, it needs to be stopped. Ask your MP today: contactyourmp.org.au/

Under Tasmania's Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill, any conversion practice directed at a child is automatically classified as ‘child abuse’. That applies even if it was consensual and caused no harm. Combined with a definition no-one can clearly explain, this leaves parents and churches open to investigations and civil claims without knowing where the line sits. Families deserve clarity.

What does this Bill actually ban? Can anyone explain what Tasmania's conversion practices Bill actually bans? Right now, the answer is no. The definition of a ‘conversion practice’ is so broad that it is almost impossible to say what is and what is not included. No harm needs to be caused. Consent is irrelevant. Tasmanian MPs are expected to vote within weeks. A law no-one can clearly explain is not ready to pass.

Across Victoria and New South Wales, churches are continuing to prepare candidate forums ahead of their state elections. These forums create a direct conversation between communities and the people seeking to represent them. Please keep praying for the churches preparing to host, for candidates responding to invitations and for conversations that are thoughtful, gracious and substantive.

The Tasmanian Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill has changed substantially since the first draft. That is encouraging. Freedom for Faith has said significant concerns remain about the breadth of the central definition and the effect some provisions could have on religious and parental freedom. We will keep engaging carefully as the legislation progresses.