An Essential Poll has found only 38 per cent of Australians agree that stronger laws are needed to protect those who express their religious faith in public, in the wake of Israel Folau’s dispute with Rugby Australia.
Of those polled, 58 per cent believe employers should not have the right to dictate what their employees say outside of work, but 64 per cent agreed “people should not be allowed to argue religious freedoms to abuse others.”
The poll comes as debate continues over the Morrison government’s plan to legislate against religious discrimination, with LGBTIQ activists and women’s groups calling on the government to ensure people of faith, women and LGBTIQ people are ‘protected equally’.