{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2Ff25bf94e-1699-4ec0-962e-ee5a1fa1b4ab","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Episode 170 \u2013 The Ruddock Report in a Nutshell","description":"Finally, a good week for secularism.
\nIt’s fair to say that the playing out of the Ruddock Inquiry saga is irony at it’s best.
\nIronic –\u00a0happening in a way contrary to what is expected, and typically causing wry amusement because of this.
\nSo, in summary, the marriage equality law caused the religious right to feel persecuted which caused the Prime Minister to placate them with the Ruddock Inquiry which was stacked with religionists causing it to produce recommendations which the Prime Minister didn’t like which caused the report to be shelved which then upset people who wanted it exposed which caused it to be leaked which didn’t worry the new Prime Minister too much because he liked the recommendations but the leak caused\u00a0the public to be aware and angry at previously unknown discrimination laws which caused a risk of a by-election loss which caused the Prime Minister to bow to public opinion and announce a new law which, of course … has caused the religionists to feel persecuted.
\nUltimately, the religious nutters don’t get anything they don’t already have but the publicity surrounding the report and the timing of it means that people are finally looking at this issue and saying “WTF – I had no idea – We need to change these laws!” As a result, Scott Morrison caved and agreed to remove a privilege that the religious schools previously enjoyed and that the panel recommended. An inquiry designed to expand religious privilege has caused a contraction. Oh, the irony.
\nWhat Did He Say?
\nSince we last podcasted …
\n5:28 The Ruddock Report was leaked and Morrison was asked: \u201cSo you\u2019re comfortable with a school expelling a student because they are gay or lesbian?\u201d The Prime Minister replied: \u201cIt is existing law.\u201d
\nSo I wrote a letter to The Editor of The Australian which of course, did not get published. Here it is – Gay bashing used to be done in the dark behind the toilet block. Now it is done openly in press conferences by our Prime Minister.
\nBacklash
\nWhen the public hears Morrison there is an uproar. Then when he feels the backlash he flips.\u00a0This guy has no backbone. He is that bully full of bluster who will run when punched on the nose. Like all Christians, he picks and chooses the pieces of Christian morality that suit him at the time.
\nAn Ipsos poll confirmed the backlash.
\nThe New Law to be passed in the next fortnight
\n10:50 So now he is willing to change the law to stop discrimination of students but not teachers.
\nMr Morrison’s half-pregnant bill says discrimination against LGBTQI people is unacceptable for children but fine for adults.
\nMorrison has previously said that he believes in \u201ca fair go for those who have a go\u201d. Except if you are a gay teacher wanting to have a go at teaching.
\nA Quick Refresher on Hierarchy of Rights and Discrimination
\n11:54 We need to recall a previous discussion\u00a0(in episode 110 on the 22nd of August 2017) about identity and discrimination.
\nSome of our characteristics such as skin colour, gender and sexual preference are innate. Others such as political or religious belief are acquired or maintained by our choices and rely on values and ideological content.
\nInnate characteristics are beyond a person\u2019s control[i]. They cannot be criticised for being good or bad and therefore always deserve protection from discrimination. It would, for example, be absurd to praise or blame Martin Luther King Jr for being black,","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/085762e2-797c-4ef4-9b10-434ecde61c07/logo2018v2.jpg"}