There is a great one-day conference coming up for those around (or who can get to) Melbourne on Saturday October 31. Details and registration link are here: https://events.humanitix.com/fff-melbourne-26 . It is jointly sponsored by Freedom for Faith and ISCAST.
Law and Religion Australia
Law and Religion Australia, published by Neil Foster, focuses on the intersection of legal issues and religious beliefs within the Australian context. The blog covers topics such as religious freedom in healthcare and aged care, including debates on voluntary assisted dying and faith-based institutions' rights. It addresses employment law matters related to religious schools, particularly concerning gender identity and discrimination laws. The blog also discusses legal scholarship and developments in law and religion, including reviews of relevant academic journals and books. Additionally, it examines cases involving vilification laws, especially those concerning transgender individuals, and explores the balance between religious doctrines and anti-discrimination legislation.
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Latest from Law and Religion Australia
Routine name check of transgender person unlawful
A recent press article notes a disturbing Tribunal decision: ‘Humiliated’: Trans worker awarded $35,000 in landmark ‘dead-name’ ruling (The Australian; 17 Sept 2026; paywalled). It is a case worthy of comment here because a casual reading might suggest that merely…
Special leave denied in Giggle v Tickle
I am disappointed that the High Court of Australia has denied special leave to appeal the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court in Giggle for Girls Pty Ltd v Tickle [2026] FCAFC 64 (15 May 2026). The…
Religious Liberty Lecture and Conference, Uni of Notre Dame, Sydney
For those interested in Religious Freedom issues, I recommend the Religious Liberty Lecture and Conference being held at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, on September 17-18, 2026.
On Thursday evening Sept 17 the Religious Liberty lecture will be delivered by…
YOU BE THE JUDGE! Newcastle City Legal breakfast
Lawyers invest their time evaluating evidence, interpreting statutes, and seeking justice within a framework designed to maintain social order. But what happens when the foundations that undergird a legal system are systematically erased? How does a shift from absolute truth…
Kirralie Smith- transgender vilification and sport
I have previously written about the case of Kirralie Smith. Ms Smith is part of an advocacy organisation, Binary Australia Ltd, which advocates for sex-based rights, especially for women, and sometimes posts about biological males who have been allowed…
Giggle v Tickle- further response on “special measures”
The debate around whether a women-only app can exclude those born male is continuing. The decision of the Full Federal Court in Giggle v Tickle holds that it was unlawful for Sall Grover to exclude Roxanne Tickle from the “Giggle…
Academic conference on Jurisprudence and Theology, 2027- call for papers
On behalf of the organisers, I am happy to post (for academic, and academically inclined, readers!) a call for papers for a symposium to be held in Melbourne in February 2027.
Call for Papers
Seventh Annual Symposium on Jurisprudence and…
Giggle v Tickle and religious freedom- response
Professor Paula Gerber has published a response to my critique of her previous piece on the Giggle v Tickle case. In her article, “Giggle v Tickle is about sex discrimination, not religious freedom” (ABC Religion and Ethics, 17…
Giggle v Tickle comment on ABC website
I have published an opinion piece on the ABC Religion and Ethics website commenting on the litigation in Giggle v Tickle: “Why the Giggle v Tickle judgement is bad for women’s rights and a risk to religious freedom“.…