No Prayers in Parliament
The Humanist Society continues to support the call for the removal of compulsory prayers from Victorian Parliament.
Latest Campaign update
Opening parliamentary sessions with a Christian prayer does not reflect the diversity of beliefs and worldviews in modern Australia. We believe the state should remain secular, ensuring equal respect for people of all faiths and none.
The No Prayers in Parliament campaign seeks a respectful and inclusive approach to parliamentary proceedings that represents all Victorians.
History and Context
It’s been over 1100 days since the Victorian Labor government promised to replace Christian prayer in Parliament with something more reflective of the community.
On July 31 2024, the longstanding tradition of reciting the Lord’s Prayer in Victoria’s parliament was debated in the upper house. Despite the Victorian Labor government promising to replace Christian prayer with something more reflective of the community, the government appeared to back down on this commitment. However it is not yet clear that the Allan government has abandoned their promise. In fact many Labor MPs are among those currently boycotting the prayers in the lower house.
Humanists, Rationalists, Atheists and the National Secular Lobby have also written to all Victorian MPs.
Send a letter to your MP
You can help by sending a letter to your MP urging them to replace Christian prayers in Parliament with a practice more reflective of the diversity of the Victorian community.
Find contact details for your MP here: Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear xxxxx
I’m writing to ask for your support in modernising parliamentary procedures by replacing Christian prayers with a secular practice that reflects Victoria’s diversity.
The current practice of observing Christian prayers makes many people, including myself, feel unwelcome and excluded. It goes against our state’s multiculturalism principles and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006, which emphasise equal opportunity for all Victorians.
Our community is multicultural and increasingly non-religious. According to the ABS 2021 Census, 41% of Victorians identified as Christian, while almost 40% said they had no religion. With these changing demographics, it’s clear that Christian prayers no longer represent us all.
The ACT Legislative Assembly provides a great example by allowing members to stand in silence and reflect instead of reciting prayers. It’s time for the Victorian Parliament to consider change, and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
Many local councils have already removed prayers from their meetings. The Victorian government committed to replacing prayers close to three years ago. Now is the time to deliver on this promise and lead by example.
I urge you to support the move towards a secular, inclusive parliamentary practice that truly represents all Victorians. Please take action to modernise our parliamentary procedures and make our democracy more welcoming.
Thank you for considering my views on this important issue.