Submission by the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils on The Federal Government Expert Panel for the Religious Freedom Review.

We refer to our attendance at the meeting with religious leaders together with the Expert Panel on Monday 12 February 2018 at the Hyatt Regency in Perth.

The Federation of Australian Buddhist Council’s view is as follows: -

•    Whilst religious freedom is a human right, this should not override other basic human rights of equality and compassion for all human beings. 

•    Religious freedom should not be an avenue to practice discrimination against the weak and vulnerable. In this respect, religious institutions should be bound by the same anti-discrimination laws including laws on gender equality. 

•    One law for all and no separate laws for any particular religious group. 

•    When the law of the country is inconsistent with any religious law, the law of 
the country must prevail. 

•    With regard to aged care, we recognise that although most care facilities are government funded, 75% of aged care are run by religious organisations. In this respect, aged care should be available to all in need irrespective of religion, ethnicity or gender. No religious belief should be imposed upon any individual in aged care. 

•    Animals rights should be also protected. Religious beliefs should not be a justification to bring unnecessary harm to animals. 


Kind Regards

Cecilia Mitra LLB hons (Singapore) LLM (UWA)
President
Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils
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THE BUDDHIST STATEMENT ON LIVE EXPORT TRADE OF ANIMALS

The Buddhist community of Australia believes that the live export of animals for slaughter is needless and cruel, and we call for a ban on this trade.

Since our Statement of 12 June 2011, it has come to our attention, through a recent April 2018 Channel 9 expose on 60 Minutes, that the animals are inhumanely transported. Australian laws against cruelty to animals were and are being blatantly ignored.

The secret cameras on the sheep vessel revealed the severity of the suffering was so extreme that many sheep were just thrown overboard, others died of severe heat wave. Only the stronger animals had access to food and water. The sheep were transported in horrific conditions with standing room only and stacked to ten storeys high. The high temperature caused hundreds of sheep to die. According to the Mr Ullah, who risked his life to make a secret recording: “it is same as putting live animals into the oven… and they died one after the other”.  https://www.9now.com.au/60-minutes/2018/extras/clips/clip-cjfqblr2d003q0ql9dyfho98x

This deliberate cruelty must and will end with the ending of live-export.

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