Crashing the National Day of Prayer

[AustralAlien]

Thought this was rather amusing. Led me to wonder if Australia is technically a secular nation like the US, or is it being eroded by people similar to those you see in the video? Any help with this question would be much appreciated! Oh and be gentle, my name might be AustralAlien but I've been away from Aus for a decade

Link to Video

[Loki]

Australia has no separation of church and state. Our supreme court has regularly interpreted s.116 of our constitution as not inferring such separation.

We are a soft theocracy.

[AustralAlien]

Originally Posted by Loki

Australia has no separation of church and state. Our supreme court has regularly interpreted s.116 of our constitution as not inferring such separation.

We are a soft theocracy.

It seems pretty clear to me that it's advocating secularism.

What is the Religion that dominates politics most then?

Link.

[Loki]

Linky failure Mr B.

It seems pretty clear to me and all, though apparently the constitutional courts in this country aren't bound by my (our your) interpretation.

Mr. B, link or not, is referring to the State Aid or Defence of Government Schools (DOGS) case of 1981. Here's a couple of quotes from the judges;

Originally Posted by Justice Sir Ronald Wilson

The fact is that s.116 is a denial of legislative power to the Commonwealth and no more … The provision therefore cannot answer the description of a law which guarantees within Australia the separation of church and state.

Originally Posted by Justice Sir Ninian Stephen

s.116:
... cannot readily be viewed as a repository of some broad statement of principle concerning the separation of church and state, from which may be distilled the detailed consequences of such separation.

Courts have upheld this ever since. S.116 is interpreted as declaring that the commonwealth cannot establish a church, it can support as many existing churches as it likes and legislate to benefit them, it just can't establish a church.

It's worth having a read of the decision, which should leave you in no doubt of the state of play.

Soft theocracy.

[AustralAlien]

Originally Posted by Loki

Soft theocracy.

Is it technically possible to amend the Constitution to make it clearer that Australia should be secular?

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by AustralAlien

Is it technically possible to amend the Constitution to make it clearer that Australia should be secular?

Good luck with that in the near to medium term. We are still a constitutional monarchy.

[AustralAlien]

Originally Posted by Xeno

Good luck with that in the near to medium term. We are still a constitutional monarchy.

I know. I'm a dual-national Brit-Aussie and I want to see both become elected Republics in my lifetime. Secular Republics, of course. And elected representatives have to wear togas. And eat figs. There may be some embellishment here.

[Xeno]

In the land of opportunity, to whom should I give the opportunity to peel me some grapes?