Rationalist Society of Australia
ausrationalist.bsky.social
Rationalist Society of Australia
@ausrationalist.bsky.social
The Rationalist Society of Australia is Australia's oldest freethought organisation, promoting reason, secularism and evidence-based policy.
Check out our website: rationalist.com.au
Read our online magazine: rationalemagazine.com
In the #Rationale magazine, cartoonist Matt Bissett-Johnson gives his take on what’s happening in current affairs. Check out his other recent cartoons here: rationalemagazine.com/index.php/au...
@mbjcartoonist.bsky.social
#auspol
November 15, 2025 at 4:07 AM
When the ACT’s Legislative Assembly passed laws to ensure religious institutions will be vicariously liable for the actions of clergymen – & other organisations similarly for their volunteers & people in positions akin to employment – Shane Rattenbury took aim at those who opposed the move.
#auspol
November 12, 2025 at 5:57 AM
We’re pleased to support a joint statement spearheaded by Go Gentle, Dying with Dignity NSW & a number of medical, legal & seniors’ rights groups to oppose a bill that seeks to restrict access to voluntary assisted dying in aged-care facilities in NSW: www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/opposition_t...
November 9, 2025 at 6:16 AM
At the Christian prayer breakfast this week, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said that the “principles and values that Jesus lived by underpin the role of Australia’s first law officer” and claimed that “our values and faith” guide lawmakers. Read more: rationalist.com.au/australias-a...
#auspol
November 5, 2025 at 6:40 AM
A Christian activist calling for the Moyne Shire Council in Victoria to reinstate prayers to the opening of its meetings has waved the Bible in front of councillors and warned of people being a “tool for the Devil”. Read more: rationalist.com.au/councillors-...
#auspol
November 1, 2025 at 4:20 AM
In opposing a petition calling for Christian prayers to be reinstated at the opening of Bass Coast council meetings, one councillor has argued that prayers should be left to churches and another has said that he has “as much religion as a cat”. Read more: rationalist.com.au/councillors-...
#auspol
October 28, 2025 at 8:36 AM
In our latest podcast episode, Maria Esguerra, a psychologist and a cult survivor, speaks about the psychological impacts and other harms experienced in religious cults and high-demand religious groups. Listen to the podcast on major podcast apps or here on our website: rationalist.com.au/podcasts/
October 19, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Facing questions in the Senate last week, govt minister Don Farrell pledged to ask PM Anthony Albanese whether he still wanted bipartisan support before tackling the issue of discrimination against staff and students in faith schools. Follow our campaign: rationalist.com.au/campaigns/re...
#auspol
October 15, 2025 at 7:44 AM
In the #Rationale magazine, cartoonist Matt Bissett-Johnson gives his take on what’s happening in current affairs. Check out his other recent cartoons here: rationalemagazine.com/index.php/au...
@mbjcartoonist.bsky.social
#auspol
October 12, 2025 at 12:33 AM
🎧Liberal MP Andrew Hastie – who has previously refused to answer media questions about his religious beliefs – told a church podcast last year that the world “does have intelligent design” and that Genesis answers “big questions” about our origins. More: rationalemagazine.com/index.php/20...
#auspol
October 4, 2025 at 2:29 AM
These are just some of the experiences of psychological harm, personal restrictions and recruitment tactics shared with the Victorian parliamentary committee examining cults and high‑control groups. Read more on the committee’s website: www.parliament.vic.gov.au/cofg-questio...
#SpringSt
September 19, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says one thing about the principle of separation of church and state but his government is doing another thing when it comes to imposing daily acts of Christian worship in the federal parliament. More: rationalist.com.au/albanese-gov...
#auspol @albomp.bsky.social
September 17, 2025 at 12:43 AM
In the #Rationale magazine, cartoonist Matt Bissett-Johnson gives his take on what’s happening in current affairs. Check out his other recent cartoons here: rationalemagazine.com/index.php/au...
@mbjcartoonist.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Newly published survey data shows that the proportion of the Australian population identifying as not religious has continued to surge in recent years, rising to more than half. See figure 5 in the following report: scanloninstitute.org.au/publications...
#auspol
September 8, 2025 at 7:58 AM
New research published by Roy Morgan shows a “profound shift” in the Australian public’s attitudes concerning weekly religious instruction in government schools, with opposition rising to 50% this year from 28% in the late 1990s. Read more:
www.roymorgan.com/findings/100...
#auspol
September 4, 2025 at 12:59 AM
In the federal parliament in recent days, a number of Labor MPs have raised allegations about the behaviour of the Exclusive Brethren church at polling stations during the federal election earlier this year.
#auspol
September 3, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Speaking on ABC Radio yesterday, our Executive Director @si_gladman said the Moyne council decision to remove prayers from its meetings was further proof of a growing desire across Australia for public institutions, such as parliaments and local governments, to be secular.
#auspol
August 30, 2025 at 7:03 AM
As Treasurer Jim Chalmers held his Economic Roundtable in recent days, we suggested to him that his department could investigate these two questions in an effort to strengthen government budgets and make them more sustainable. Follow our campaign: rationalist.com.au/category/sec...
#auspol
August 24, 2025 at 1:10 AM
When the Moyne Shire Council in Victoria voted to remove prayers from its meetings last month, some councillors who opposed the decision warned of battle lines being drawn, a “war for the soul of the West”, and raved on about “anti-Christian devil worshippers” and “the Left”.
#auspol
August 22, 2025 at 6:04 AM
In the #Rationale magazine, cartoonist Matt Bissett-Johnson gives his take on what’s happening in current affairs. Check out his other recent cartoons here: rationalemagazine.com/index.php/au...
@mbjcartoonist.bsky.social #auspol
August 17, 2025 at 12:52 AM
On ABC radio last week, Victorian Liberal MP Evan Mulholland said there were “lots of quite silly traditions” in the parliament but claimed the daily observance of Christian prayers was not one of them. What do you think? Follow our campaign: rationalist.com.au/category/sec...
#SpringSt #auspol
August 7, 2025 at 4:35 AM
🎧 On ABC radio last week, Georgie Purcell urged the Victorian Parliament to follow the lead of the ACT Legislative Assembly and replace daily Christian prayers with a moment of silent reflection. Read more: rationalist.com.au/allan-govern...
#SpringSt
August 4, 2025 at 2:15 AM
In a speech to parliament last week, Labor MP Shayne Neumann said he hoped a parliamentary committee examining the conduct of the election would now consider the alleged election activities of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, commonly known as the Exclusive Brethren.
#auspol
July 29, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Our joint submission to the UN Human Rights Council details eight examples of unfair and discriminatory treatment of non-religious Australians in government institutions and programs. Download the submission here: rationalist.com.au/coalition-of...
#auspol
July 27, 2025 at 12:41 AM
The houses of the new federal parliament have continued with the divisive practice of imposing daily acts of Christian worship, showing disregard for the fundamental rights of non-religious people & non-Christians, & for Australia’s international commitments to freedom of religion & belief.
#auspol
July 23, 2025 at 1:00 AM