On the campaign trail last year, Ardern raised eyebrows when she blithely told journalists she expected “wide support” for expanding existing hate-speech laws to include religion. When asked whether sexual orientation, age or disability could be included, she said, “Yeah.” The Prime Minister, who had just unveiled a memorial plaque at Christchurch’s Al Noor mosque, Read more
An unapologetic Israel Folau says he has no regrets about his controversial religious views as he aims to resurrect his sporting career at an amateur Gold Coast rugby league club, with backing from billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer. The former rugby union and rugby league international has signed with Southport Tigers, who play in Gold Read more
Denmark’s religious liberty and freedom of speech and expression are at risk, say the country’s Christian leaders. They’re protesting about a proposed law requiring leaders of all faiths to translate their sermons into Danish and submit them to the government. The new law, is primarily aimed at radical Islamic groups, but will affect all churches. Read more
Well, he did it. Bill Shorten snatched defeat right out of the jaws of victory. Which is all the more embarrassing when you remember how he formerly introduced himself to Arnold Schwarzenegger as Australia’s next Prime Minister. But, incredibly, not only did all of the media pundits get the election result wrong, but so did Read more
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern has told Newshub that her government won’t ban criticism of religious groups, but it is reviewing whether New Zealand laws go far enough in stopping violence against them. Both ACT party leader David Seymour and Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki appear to agree that people should be allowed to express their Read more
New Zealand’s Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has not question the banning of the graphic video of the shooting at two mosques in Christchurch but they believe other moves go too far. In their recent newsletters and press releases, they say that the wake of terror attacks, governments often consider curtailing a number of civil liberties. “With that Read more
Labour backbencher Louisa Wall, is looking at the possibility of drafting legislation that would impose a “duty of care” on media organisations. In June she told the Herald on Sunday she would like a “duty of care” clause added to the Bill of Rights Act, so people could be held accountable for their use of free Read more
Hannah Tamaki has hit back on Twitter, supporting a message from one of the church’s members that accused the gay community of double standards and hit out at bullies and critics of husband Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church. “The gay community want to be free to express themselves, to be accepted no matter what they Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops (NZCBC) have expressed concern at the decision of Auckland University’s student Association (AUSA) to ban a ProLife Club. “The Catholic Church has learned through dark periods in our own history that banning free-thinking and persecuting those with different views is a shameful and retrograde step for society,” said Bishop Patrick Read more
The Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill being considered by Fiji’s parliament will silence the essential independent accountability of agencies such as the media, civil society, religious organisations and others. This is the opinion expressed by the Methodist Church in its submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights last Thursday. The Read more