Changes to religious discrimination bill

RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION BILL VERSION TWO:

Following consultation over an initial draft the government has released a second religious discrimination bill for comment by the end of January.

* Religious bodies will continue to be able to make staffing and other decisions based upon faith. Organisations such as Vinnies will be included in the definition of 'religious bodies'. (First bill said religious charities were not 'religious bodies' if they were solely or primarily engaged in commercial activities)

* Conscientious objection applies only to nurses, midwives, doctors, psychologists and pharmacists (Initial broad list of professions has been narrowed)

* Religious hospitals, aged care facilities and accommodation providers such as retirement homes can employ staff to preserve a religious ethos, with additional specific protections for religious camps and conference centres (Initial bill said they could not make staffing decisions on the basis of faith).

* The term 'vilify' has been defined as incitement of hatred or violence. (Vilify was not defined in the original bill)

* Definition of 'conscientiously object' has been included.

Source: Federal Government media release