Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a delay to the government's religious discrimination bill plans.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Attorney-General Christian Porter initially said the bill would be introduced in October,and then by the end of 2019. On Saturday,Mr Morrison said it would now come to Parliament next year,with a second draft to be released for consultation soon.
"What Australians believe is really important to them and to me,"he said in a video recorded in front of a Christmas tree.
"We're going to take a bit more time to get this right".
The delay also follows a series of recent setbacks for the Coalition,as it heads into the final parliamentary sitting week of the year. The Morrison government is reeling from ashock loss on industrial relations law last Thursday,whilestruggling to get the numbers to repeal its refugee medical transfer bill. It is also facing pressure over theconduct of Energy Minister Angus Taylor.
A first draft of the religious discrimination bill was released in late August,prompting about 6,000 submissions to the Attorney-General's department. Privately,many MPs and religious groups have been expecting a delay to the bill,given the volume and strength of concerns. As one government MP noted on Saturday,there is no need to"rush into it".
Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells -who has been an outspoken critic of the bill so far - welcomed the delay.
"Religious leaders,experts and stakeholders across the faith spectrum have raised serious concerns that the bills fell far short of properly and fully protecting religious freedom,"Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.