Religious groups could be protected from state anti-discrimination laws under a legislative proposal crafted by the federal Attorney-General.
Christian Porter is expected to present a draft plan to support religious freedom to Scott Morrison's cabinet on Tuesday, The Australian reports.
Under consideration is a proposal for a federal law to protect religious groups from "vexatious" cases pursued under state laws and a separate ban on discrimination on the basis of faith in the housing, employment and services sectors.
The final draft bill should mirror "other anti-discrimination acts such as those already covering race, sex and aged discrimination", Mr Porter told The Australian.
"We remain committed to delivering on that promise and we are close to settling a draft bill for public consultation."
It comes as the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Religious Freedom, a group which promotes religious freedoms, meets at State Parliament in Sydney.
State Labor MP and Co-Chair Tania Mihailuk represents the multicultural electorate of Bankstown in Sydney’s south-west, and has been a vocal proponent for the cause.
Ms Mihailuk established the group, which is Co-Chaired by the state’s Finance Minister Damien Tudehope, earlier this year.
It will hear from a number of religious leaders including Archbishop Makarios, Archbishop the Greek Orthodox Dioceses of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad, The Grand Mufti of Australia, The Most Rev Dr Glenn Davies, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW and Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue.
