Chris Crewther (Dunkley, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm proud of the Prime Minister's firm commitment to better protect freedom of speech and religion. This goes well beyond the context of the recent marriage debate to the need to protect such freedoms more generally. The fact is that in Australia we have limited to no constitutional or guaranteed protections for freedom of speech, religion, conscience and belief. That means a future government with a simple majority could whittle down such freedoms. In my maiden speech I said:

I am a Liberal because I support freedom and liberty …

People should generally be able to freely express their beliefs and not be forced to speak or act against them. I also said we should be:

… considering charter protection of our freedoms and liberties.

Protections must include churches or other bodies promoting a religion or world view, and their ministers, personnel and practitioners, in meetings, proselytisation, employment or expressing views. They must include religious schools, organisations set up on religious principles, the press, and individuals expressing their views in their lives or employment or to others, including stopping costs being put on free speech as we've seen with Bettina Arndt and others recently. They must include parents with their parental choice and consent over what their children are taught; businesses or organisations in employment or when asked to put out a message or participate in something they disagree with; Defence celebrants; and more. As Evelyn Beatrice Hall said:

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

See this speech in context