Attorney-General Christian Porter has released draft religious freedom legislation.Credit:Ben Rushton
Mr Porter said"empathy and understanding"were necessary when it came to religion in Australia.
"We cannot live and let others live without some real appreciation of what it is that makes our neighbours'life meaningful. It should not be underestimated how important religion is to the composition and success of the life of Australian nation itself,"Mr Porter said in a speech in Sydney on Thursday.
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The draft bill would make it unlawful to discriminate against Australians on the basis of their religion,but does not create a broad right to freedom of religion,which some church leaders have been pushing for.
It could also impose additional requirements on businesses with a revenue of at least $50 million a year when it comes to standards of dress,appearance or behaviour which limit religious expression. If a business imposes a restriction,it must prove this is necessary to"avoid unjustifiable financial hardship on the business".
Under the proposed laws,religious schools would have the discretion to employ staff of a particular faith and health practitioners would be able to conscientiously object to providing a health service - such as abortion - on the basis of their religious belief. The bill would also allow employers not to hire someone because they could not abide by workplace health and safety requirements due to their religious dress.
In its current form,the bill does not count charities that engage primarily in commercial activities - such as hospitals or aged care homes - as a religious body. But Mr Porter said he would be consulting with church-run hospitals and aged care providers to understand any concerns they may have.