Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to inform the chamber that Senators Pratt, McAllister, Keneally, Kitching and Griff will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Rice, Pratt, McAllister, Keneally, Kitching and Griff, move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Prime Minister, by no later than 9.30 am on Thursday 20 September, the final report of the Religious Freedom Review Expert Panel.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 18 May 2018 the former Prime Minister received the final report into religious freedoms from the expert panel. The panel received over 15,000 public submissions and held around 90 consultation meetings representing a diversity of views. The government thanks the expert panel for their work, and the Australian people who took their time to have their say in exploring the important issue in such a comprehensive and respectful way. The government is undertaking detailed consideration before releasing it to the public and responding to its findings in the near future. The panel considered the issues involved in the review very carefully, and it is important that the government has the opportunity to do so.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has sat on this report for over four months. The Prime Minister has already made it clear that he has plans to dismantle anti-discrimination laws in this country. Mr Morrison and his cohorts on the Right lost the marriage equality debate, and now they want revenge. They're going to try and entrench discrimination in other parts of our community. There were over 15,000 submissions to this inquiry. There is a very high degree of public interest in this matter, particularly given the comments made recently by Prime Minister Morrison. It's time to end the secrecy and allow the Australian people to see this report, including Mr Ruddock's recommendations.

Question agreed to.