Core Value FREEDOM
Family First believes that freedom of speech, expression and religion are fundamental freedoms. Democracy requires legitimate debate, political expression, and open communication.
Australia is unique among developed nations in not having any legislated protection of individual liberties like free speech and religion. Instead, laws in Australia restrict speech that could incite hatred, promote violence, or cause offence.
As offence and hatred are completely subjective, these laws have significantly restricted free speech in Australia. We have repeatedly seen vilification laws used to target certain groups and faiths, particularly women in sport, political conservatives and Christians, through publicly funded tribunal systems established to support complainants.
Family First opposes anti-discrimination laws that infringe upon the fundamental freedoms of association, movement, religion, speech, freedom of contract and democratic process.
Family First will seek to uphold the fundamental freedoms of speech and religion through:
- Amending the anti-vilification and anti-discrimination provisions at both state and federal level to remove provisions for causing offence and inciting hatred;
- Family First will move to abolish federal and state human rights commissions as they continually undermine the human rights of biological women, free speech and religious rights.
- Amending the Fair Work Act to allow faith-based schools and hospitals to freely express their faith in the choice of staff;
- Amending legislation in the NSW and VIC Parliaments restoring the right to pray for anyone who asks for prayer for any reason, including unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion;
- Repealing anti-conversion therapy laws in each state that enforce affirmation of a person's gender transition and sexual attraction. These laws currently prevent LGBTQA+ people from receiving genuine therapeutic care.
- Ensure publicly funded media are scrutinised and held accountable for balance, truthfulness and evidence-based reporting;
Keeping the government accountable through protecting FOI (freedom of information) and ensuring all FOI requests of taxpayer funded entities are delivered in reasonable timeframes without fees.