Religious Freedom a Key Issue at Cairns Ministers Network Candidate Forum 23.4.25. Norman Miller Shares
- ifi374
- Apr 27
- 3 min read
As a pastor for almost 30 years and a youth leader before that, I am passionate about sharing about Jesus Christ our Saviour and the Jewish roots of our Christian faith.
While religious freedom was a key element of the 2022 election campaign, Labor and the Coalition have been mostly silent about it in the lead-up to May 3. Anglican Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead, one co-signatory of the letter sent by faith leaders to both major parties and the Greens in March, said:
“We asked each party whether they would hold to their commitments to freedom of religion if they had to make deals to form a minority government. The Coalition gave this commitment, Labor did not.” The Greens did not reply.
In Oct 2019, Barbara and I made a submission on behalf of our church to the Religious Freedom Bill.
I presented a large boomerang with the words “Religious Freedom Speech” to Senator Concetta Fieverravanti-Wells at Parliament House Canberra in Feb 2020 just before COVID. She was to give it to PM Scott Morrison.
Being an artist as well as a pastor, I use my art to campaign, and I made a placard in the shape of a hand in 2018. On the palm it had freedom and, on the thumb and fingers it had belief, conscience, religion, speech, and parental rights.
In May 2019, I painted freedom of speech on a football as it had become a political football (a reference to Qantas putting pressure on Rugby Australia to fire Israel Folau).
In Oct 2020, I made 2 placards one saying “no euthanasia” and the other “stop abortion” and I got a lot of press on my anti-euthanasia campaign.
I support religious freedom legislation, but it must have input from the churches to ensure that churches and Christian organisations like schools, hospitals and charities can employ people and use volunteers who share our values. Christians need to be able to pray and quote scriptures without fear of being fired from their workplaces or taken to court.
Christian doctors and nurses should not be forced to perform abortions and euthanasia. I believe life should be protected in the womb according to Psalm 139 and babies born alive after abortion should not be left to die so I would support a review of abortion legislation. Of course, there are some exceptions e.g. where the mother's life is in danger. I have campaigned against euthanasia legislation and called for more palliative care services.
Australia should take on board the UK Supreme Court decision that a woman is a biological woman, not a man who identifies as a woman, as this will protect female spaces in sport, toilets, hospitals, jails etc. I will require a parliamentary review into gender affirming care.
The bible is very clear about justice and righteousness (Amos 5:24) and caring for the vulnerable and I will lobby for more affordable housing, health services, food, petrol, and electricity as cost of living is causing poverty, marriage breakdowns, suicides and 30,000 businesses to go bankrupt.
Note - Only 3 out of 10 candidates took part in the forum - Ps Norman Miller and the Family First and Greens candidates.