David,
I do not dispute that the AFA was denied the right to speak freely on atheism. The billboards that you wanted to display were legal and not offensive, irrespective of the opinions of theists. However to invoke the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act due to religious discrimination was the wrong way to go about things and puts Atheism into a questionable light given that atheists in general and the AFA in particular would normally deny religious labels.
Quote:Tasmania Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (TAS)
Grounds of unlawful discrimination
Age, breastfeeding, disability, family responsibilities, gender, industrial activity, irrelevant criminal record, irrelevant medical record, lawful sexual activity, marital status, relationship status, parental status, political activity, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy, race, religious activity, religious beliefs or affiliation, sexual orientation, association with a person who has, or is believed to have any of these attributes.
source The right to speak freely in Australia is an implied right only and cannot be enforced in an Australian Court of Law. The AFA is well placed and well networked globally to pressure the Australian Govt. to honour their signatory obligations to the UN General Assembly.
If you want the right to speak freely to be an explicit right, then you need to address the Australian Govt. signatory obligations rather than seek to demean Atheism through the use of religious discrimination laws.
Quote:In 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Article 19 affirms the right to free speech:
Article 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.(1)
Members of the Commonwealth Parliament reaffirmed the principles of the Declaration during a sitting on 10 December 1998 to mark the 50th anniversary of the UDHR and pledged to give wholehearted support to the principles enshrined in the Declaration.(2)
Article 19 of the 1966 United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that:
Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression ... (3)
Australia is a signatory to this treaty(4) and, in order to incorporate treaties and conventions into Australian law, governments must pass a specific Act of Parliament. Although some parts of the treaty have been implemented into law, such as the Human Rights Commission Act 1981,(5) no government has implemented the free speech provisions and therefore they are not enforceable by Australian courts.
source I think you should have shown more conviction and courage. The AFA could have had a wealth of support from numerous reputable organisations to ensure our right to free speech is enshrined in law. More kudos to those that dare to win honourably.
PS: Welcome and I hope you stay around to discuss other matters on atheism. It would be an honour.
Regards
Sappho.
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