Are the Nationals Tone Deaf

There have been a couple of instances lately of politicians being tone deaf to people of faith. The ALP may be in the process of learning its lesson after the disastrous showing in the Federal Election-but I think there are some lessons at state level too.

The Nationals seem intent on ignoring people of faith – not one National spoke at the recent anti-abortion rally, but there was an MP from the Shooters and Fishers party. So it will be a test for Premier Gladys Berejiklian when the One Nation leader in NSW, Mark Latham, puts forward his private member’s bill on religious freedom.

Mr Latham is concerned to stop religious discrimination especially in the workplace. Considering the way the government embraced the recent private members bill on abortion – will they give Mr Latham’s bill the same welcome. People of faith will be watching.

I’m Russell Powell for the NSW Council of Churches