This episode takes a look at the growing pressure on the Palaszczuk government to move Religious Instruction – or RI – out of class time at public schools in Queensland. The episode features an interview with Labor branch member Mel Dodds (1:41), who successfully moved a resolution calling for reform at Queensland Labor’s State Party Conference in early June 2023. Her resolution asked: that RI be removed from lesson time to lunch time, or to before or after school; or, alternatively, that non-participating students be allowed to continue with the normal curriculum. The episode also features Alison Courtice (10.47), the spokesperson for secular advocacy group Queensland Parents for Secular State Schools.
This episode takes a look at the growing pressure on the Palaszczuk government to move Religious Instruction – or RI – out of class time at public schools in Queensland. The episode features an interview with Labor branch member Mel Dodds (1:41), who successfully moved a resolution calling for reform at Queensland Labor’s State Party Conference in early June 2023. Her resolution asked: that RI be removed from lesson time to lunch time, or to before or after school; or, alternatively, that non-participating students be allowed to continue with the normal curriculum. The episode also features Alison Courtice (10.47), the spokesperson for secular advocacy group Queensland Parents for Secular State Schools.
The Rationalist Society of Australia is campaigning for change on Religious Instruction in Queensland and Special Religious Education in New South Wales. See our campaign page and catch up on the latest articles here.
In early June 2023, members of the Queensland Labor Party sent a strong message to the Palaszczuk government that they want RI classes to be moved outside of class time and teaching time given back to professional teachers. You can read about it here.
Earlier this year, the media reported that Christian missionaries involved in the RI program viewed public schools as “mission fields” to “harvest” children for the Lord. You can read about it here.
In response to the media attention, a number of state Labor MPs spoke out against RI, with Don Brown saying “time is up” for the program. You can read about it here.
The theme music of the Secular Agenda podcast is called 'Curiosity', and it's by Shimmer.
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