Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694818783454.pdf (Australia)
To Whom It May Concern, As a minister of a denomination registered under the 1961 Marriage act, I am once again finding myself having to defend that which is and has been both law and in place long before the commonwealth.

Marriage has been adopted by legislative law, but did not originate there, and so law cannot change the definition of it.

The right to freedom of religion, must include the freedom of speech and the right for people to live according to their beliefs.
It is not only a right to express worship but also fundamental lifestyle.
Right now our New Zealand cousins, having attempted to redefine marriage (an oxymoron in the sense that you cannot redefine an absolute, if you change its nature you have not changed a definition you have something else) they are now restricting the civil application of ministers not aligned with a denomination to hold a license (of which there are very many in Australia) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11793723 There are many precedents in foreign jurisdictions where business people and the like have been prosecuted for simply living their religious convictions, do we really want this imposition in Australia?
If this were truly to become an and-discrimination issue, people of many religious beliefs would be open to the risk of complaints and prosecution.

Does it stop at same sex marriage?

Do the next “aggrieved” minority them press for their preference?

Where will freedom of speech and conscience be then?
I urge you to reflect on the laws that we currently have that already restrict the freedoms we cherish; - Abortion Law Reform Act and Section 7 of the Tasmanian Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Act.
- Victoria’s Health Complaints Act 2016 which restrict counsellors in homosexual attraction counselling on - Part 9A of the Public Health and Well Being Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Act 2008 Victoria; and - Section 9 of the Tasmanian Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Act 2013 (which prohibit any communication or protest in relation to abortions within a radius of 150 metres of premises where abortions are provided.)
- And Clause 24 of the Queensland Health (Abortion Law Reform) Amendment Bill 2016 also seeks to prohibit “a protest by any means” within 50 metres of an abortion facility which is declared a “protected area.” I must urge you to please consider the impact that any attempt to red=fine marriage will have on the very fabric of what we know as Australian life!
Take a close look at other nations that have gone down that road, it is a legislative mess, abused by militant minorities to enforce an agenda on the mainstream majority.

How is that democracy?

Thank you for taking the time to read this submission.

Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or beliefSubmission 75 Sincerely Reverend Chris Twinn Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or beliefSubmission 75