ࡱ> .0-%` 0Sbjbj"x"x 8@@Spppp ' w w w  $ hEp  w w  J J J  J J J J  `Top J 0' J  J J \w  J Sw w w " (w w w '   January 2009 Dear Sir/Madam I wish to make the following points in response to your call for submissions to the inquiry into Freedom of religion and belief in the 21st century. Firstly I am somewhat puzzled as to why the inquiry is necessary at all and cant help wondering if the Commission has some unstated agenda to limit freedom of religion. Freedoms should never be tampered without overwhelming justification. I can see no case for changing the present arrangements. Australians should remain free to follow their religious beliefs, to seek to convert others to their beliefs, to speak openly and freely about the virtues of their beliefs and criticize competing religions (but not through hatred), and live out the principles of their beliefs in all aspects of their lives including employment. I am strongly against so-called anti-vilification legislation and a charter of rights. Any attempt to further define religious freedom in law will be divisive to society, suppress truth, be used as a sword against the ardent believers and a shield for a small minority who wish to damage our society. Real freedom is in the hearts and minds of citizens and promotion of those values is the best protection possible. Legislation is not the appropriate policy instrument when it comes to religious beliefs. If a religious group, such as some elements of Islam, is spreading hatred as they do in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, then they should be exposed to public scrutiny in the media and dealt with under existing laws that aim to stop threats to safety and order. Finally religious organizations should retain the present exemptions under anti-discrimination legislation to allow them to preferentially employ people who share their religious views and not employ people who act in contravention of those beliefs. Yours sincerely (Don Dudley) ^ ` ( , + , ; G M \ k l / d 3450B̼vߊ߀llvllߊvhk.OJQJ^Jh@OJQJ^JhQOJQJ^JhGOJQJ^JhGOJQJ^Jh2OJQJ^JhOOJQJ^Jh6OJQJ^Jh"e0JOJQJ^JmH sH $h"eh"e0JOJQJ^JmH sH hOJQJ^Jh"eh"eOJQJ^Jh"eOJQJ^J* , - 5601ABCDEFS$a$gd"eSBGRSh"eh@OJQJ^Jh@OJQJ^Jhk.OJQJ^J6&P 1h:pk.. A!4"4#n$n% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No List.X@. "eEmphasis6]S ,-5601ABCDEFU000000000000000000000000,-5UK0lppK0K0I0I0I0 I0 K0I0K0K0BS S S 8@0(  B S  ?-_Z~ UU9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace  UU1RUGMUk.0@G"e=tG/O6Q4w/A2@Tɨ FS@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial"h2F2F2F< < !4n9r4dPP2HX ?"e2 Mr Don DudleyLindsayCassandra DawesOh+'0 $ D P \ ht|Mr Don DudleyLindsay Normal.dotCassandra Dawes2Microsoft Office Word@F#@\$o@o@o<՜.+,0 hp|   P' Mr Don Dudley Title  !"#$&'()*+,/Root Entry FPVo1Data  1TableWordDocument8SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8%CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q