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Australia is a secular country with no official religion. The country's religious landscape is diverse and has been shaped by waves of migration. In the 2021 census, 43.9% of Australians identified with Christianity, making it the largest religious group in the country. However, the proportion of Australians who identify with Christianity has been steadily declining over the years, while the number of people who identify with other religions or no religion has been increasing. This shift in religious demographics has had a profound effect on Australia's laws and society, with ongoing debates about freedom of religion and discrimination by religious schools. While many Australians identify themselves as religious, most consider religion to be less important than other aspects of their lives, such as family, work, and leisure.
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What You'll Learn
Australia's religious diversity
Australia has no official religion, and its society is diverse in terms of religious beliefs and practices. The country's religious landscape has been shaped by waves of migration, with Christianity introduced by British colonial settlers in 1788. The Aboriginal peoples of Australia traditionally followed a set of beliefs known as "The Dreaming", which constitutes one of the earliest examples of religious practices among humans.
In the 2021 national census, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christians, making it the largest religious group. However, the proportion of Christians in Australia has been steadily declining over the past 50 years. At the same time, there has been a consistent rise in other religions and those identifying with "no religion". The latter group, comprising almost 10 million Australians, has become the second-largest "religious" group, with 38.9% of the population declaring no religious affiliation in the 2021 census.
Australia has experienced an increase in religious diversity, with the growth of religious minorities, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Australian Aboriginal Traditional Religions. This diversity has been viewed as both an opportunity and a challenge for social cohesion, with the state of Victoria leading in sophisticated public policies addressing these changes.
Historically, policies were designed to assist religious minorities with language and welfare support. However, in recent decades, there has been a shift towards "anxiety about religion, values, and loyalty," reflecting a perception of diversity as a threat to social order. This shift has resulted in more integrationist policies, which have been criticised for potentially harming minority faith groups through policy decisions that unintentionally affect their religious beliefs and practices.
Discrimination by religious schools has been a point of contention, with LGBTQ+ groups arguing against it as harmful and unacceptable in modern Australia. The country has also witnessed legal shifts away from traditional moral laws, such as the decriminalisation of abortion in all states, further complicating the debate around freedom of religion.
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Freedom of religion
> The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.
This section does not, however, restrict the states of Australia from implementing such laws, meaning legislation at the state level could provide for restriction or enforcement of religion. While two referendums were held in 1944 and 1988 on whether to restrict the ability of states to legislate laws that may impede religious freedoms, both failed to achieve a majority. As a result, Australian State and Territory governments theoretically can pass laws that impede religious freedom.
Some states and territories have implemented bills or charters of rights that include freedom of religion, such as the Human Rights Act 2004 (Australian Capital Territory) and the Charter of Human Rights & Responsibilities Act 2006 (Victoria). These acts are based on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Australia signed in 1966. While these acts do not prevent the passing of laws that impede religious freedom, they do require that all legislation be scrutinised for human rights implications and accompanied by a statement of compatibility with human rights.
In recent years, there has been an ongoing debate about freedom of religion in Australia, particularly in relation to discrimination by religious schools. On the one hand, some religious schools argue that they need to be able to maintain their unique faith identity, even when it may be out of step with mainstream beliefs. On the other hand, LGBTQ+ groups argue that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is harmful and no longer acceptable in modern Australia.
In 2017, the Australian government appointed an Expert Panel into Religious Freedom to examine whether Australian law adequately protects the right to freedom of religion. The panel concluded that there was an opportunity to further protect and promote this right under Australian law and made 20 recommendations to enhance the protection of religious freedom, 15 of which were accepted by the government. The government has also introduced the Religious Discrimination Bill, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of religious belief or activity and creates the office of the Religious Discrimination Commissioner.
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Christianity's decline
Christianity was introduced to Australia in 1788 with British colonial settlement. The Christian church has had a strong influence on Australian society, particularly in areas of social welfare and education provision, and in the marking of festivals such as Easter and Christmas, which are public holidays. However, the influence of Christianity has been in decline since the latter part of the 20th century.
In the 2021 census, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christian, down from 52.1% in 2016. This is a significant decrease, but it is important to note that Australia's religious diversity is increasing, with a steady growth of other religions in the country. The number of people who identify with "no religion" has also risen, with 38.9% of Australians selecting this option in the 2021 census, up from 30.1% in 2016.
There are several reasons for the decline of Christianity in Australia. One factor is the diversification of Australia's ethnic and cultural mix, which has reshaped the country's religious affiliations. Another reason is the decline in church attendance and participation in religious activities. The National Church Life Survey found that only 8.8% of the Australian population attended a church in one of the covered denominations in a given week in 2001. While the Catholic Church represents the highest number of churchgoers, with over 50 percent, its attendance is declining at a rate of 13 percent.
Additionally, Christians in Australia have become more aware of the failings and evils hidden within religious institutions, such as the abuse of children and the protection of abusers. This has led to a loss of trust in the church and a move away from religious affiliation. The church's stance on same-sex marriage has also contributed to its sidelining in Australian society.
The decline of Christianity in Australia has had a profound effect on the country's laws and values. For example, abortion has been decriminalised in all states, and there is an ongoing debate about freedom of religion and discrimination by religious schools. The shift in religious demographics has also impacted marriage equality and the protection of minority faiths.
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'No religion' as the second-largest group
Australia is a secular country with no official religion. The Australian Constitution enshrines freedom of religion, and the country has a diverse religious profile that has been shaped by waves of migration.
The 2021 census revealed that 38.9% of Australians identified with "no religion", making it the second-largest "religious group" after Christianity, which accounted for 43.9% of the population. This marks a significant shift from 2016, when 52.1% identified as Christians and 30.1% had no religion. The rise of the "nones" has had a profound effect on Australia's laws, contributing to decriminalisation and marriage equality.
The decline in religious affiliation is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with Millennials having the highest proportion of no religion at 46.5%. This trend is attributed to various sociological reasons, including the "'turn to the self' mentality, increased education and prosperity, and internal institutional issues within mainstream Christianity.
While Australia is becoming more religiously diverse, with a growing number of people identifying with faiths other than Christianity, the overall trend suggests a move towards secularism and away from institutional religion. This is reflected in church attendance rates, which are among the lowest in the world and in decline.
The rise of the "nones" in Australia has significant implications for law reform and the place of religion in society. As the number of Australians identifying with no religion continues to grow, the country's religious landscape is undergoing a profound transformation.
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Religion's role in law
Australia is a secular country with no official religion. Its constitution enshrines freedom of religion, protecting religious expression and preventing any particular religion from being officially established. Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia states:
> The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.
However, the role of religion in Australia's laws is complex and evolving. While the country has become more religiously diverse, with an increasing number of people identifying with "no religion", the influence of religion on law and policy cannot be overlooked.
One example of this is the debate around religious discrimination and freedom of religion in schools. Religious schools have argued for the need to maintain their unique faith identity, while LGBTQ+ groups and their allies have opposed discrimination and argued for the harm it causes. This has sparked discussions about law reform and the need for a balanced Religious Discrimination Act.
Another illustration of the role of religion in Australian law is the decriminalisation of abortion across all states. This shift away from "traditional moral laws" has occurred alongside a growing trend towards secularism and a decline in affiliation with Christianity, particularly among younger generations.
Additionally, the common law in Australia provides some protection for religious freedom, although its scope is less clear compared to other freedoms such as freedom of speech. Common law has addressed issues of religious freedom in the context of wills cases, where conditions related to religious conversion have been deemed void and considered undue religious influence.
In conclusion, while Australia is an officially secular nation with a constitution that protects religious freedom, the country's laws and policies continue to be influenced by the complex interplay between various religious and non-religious groups. The ongoing shifts in religious demographics and the increasing religious diversity of the country are having a profound effect on the legal landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a secular country with no official religion. In the 2021 census, 38.9% of Australians selected "no religion", while 43.9% identified with Christianity.
Christianity is the primary religion in Australia, with 43.9% of the population identifying as Christian in the 2021 census. The major denominations, in order of size, are Catholic, Anglican, Uniting Church, Eastern Orthodox, Presbyterian, Reformed, Baptist, and Pentecostal.
Yes, Australia is becoming more religiously diverse. Other religions include Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism. In the 2021 census, 10% of Australians identified with a religion other than Christianity, up from 3.5% in 1996.
Immigration has significantly influenced the religious landscape in Australia. Waves of migration have brought various religious groups to the country, including British and Irish free settlers in the 1800s and early 1900s, post-World War II migrants from Europe in the 1940s and 1950s, and more recently, humanitarian entrants from Africa and the Middle East and skilled migrants from Northeast and Southern Asia.
While many Australians identify themselves as religious, religion is generally not a significant aspect of their lives compared to family, work, leisure, and politics. Church attendance rates in Australia are among the lowest in the world and are in decline.
