Aims
- To bring about a true separation of church and state in Australia
- To promote secularism worldwide
- To stand for human rights and social justice, affirming the dignity of each human being
- To support the maximisation of individual liberty and opportunity, consistent with social and environmental responsibility
- To defend freedom of expression everywhere
- To espouse policies that support a rational approach to human problems
- To promote the fullest use of science for human welfare
- To eliminate privileges granted to people solely on the basis that they are members of religious bodies
- To promote the use of reason and evidence as a means of overcoming ignorance and superstition
- To gain and maintain for non-religious people the same rights as those enjoyed by members of religious bodies
- To promote the election to Parliament of Secular Party endorsed candidates
We stand for:
- Constitutional separation of church and state
- A secular republic, free of hereditary privilege
- Pro-choice regarding abortion
- Same-sex marriage recognition
- Recognition of gay families
- Contraception and sex education
- Anti-homophobia education
- No anti-discrimination exemptions for religious schools and businesses
- The right to die
- Voluntary euthanasia
- Embryonic stem cell research
- Lesbian IVF availability
- Scientific research unlimited by unfounded religious objections
We stand against:
- Censorship
- All imposition of religious dogma
- Government support for religious schools
- Religious attire at schools
- Religious indoctrination of children
- All forms of religious coercion and theocracy
A truly secular country is one in which society is fully organised on the basis of reason. This requires that beliefs based on notions of the supernatural should not be endorsed by the state. While all people should be free to hold any form of religious belief, these are best held privately, and should not receive government endorsement or support.
The Secular Party holds that religious beliefs can give rise to unwarranted restrictions on civil liberties and constitute a source of social disharmony. We seek to uphold the internationally recognised “Declaration of the Rights of the Child”. This document implies that children should be free to develop to their full potential, including the capacity for freedom of thought. Children should be protected from religious indoctrination. Ethics should be based on universal principles, such as compassion, honesty, freedom and justice.
“A man’s ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.” – Albert Einstein