Government pressured to release religion report but says would 'harm public interest'

The government's Senate leader says immediately releasing a controversial report into religious freedoms would 'harm the public interest'.

Pressure is mounting on the government to release the review into religious freedom report.

Pressure is mounting on the government to release the review into religious freedom report. Source: AAP

The government is refusing to back down on releasing a controversial review into religious freedoms despite strong Senate pressure.

Mathias Cormann, the government's Senate leader, said a response to the report was yet to be considered by cabinet and the government would release it in "due course".

He said it was in the public interest for the full review, led by former Liberal minister Philip Ruddock, not to be released despite all 20 recommendations already being leaked to the media.

"Release of this document at this time would harm the public interest in that it would interfere with the deliberative process of cabinet," Senator Cormann told parliament on Wednesday, in response to Senate order to release the report.

Labor's deputy Senate leader Don Farrell argued the government's refusal to release report was due to this weekend's Wentworth by-election.



"Somebody in the government wants this document out there because somebody in the government has released this document to journalists," Senator Farrell told parliament on Wednesday.

"The government is afraid if the community gets to see this document that it will result in (Liberal candidate) Dave Sharma losing the Wentworth by-election."


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world