Secular Agenda

A former military chaplain’s view on the imposition of religion on Anzac Day

This episode features an interview with Collin Acton, a former Christian chaplain and a former Director-General of the Royal Australian Navy's chaplaincy branch, about the imposition of religion in Anzac Day Dawn Services. Collin presided over Anzac Day commemorations during his 20-plus career as a chaplain in the military. As Navy’s top chaplain, he was instrumental in spearheading secular reform of Navy’s chaplaincy branch, leading to the introduction of secular wellbeing support roles in 2020. He walked away from religion while serving as a chaplain and became a secular advocate. He now serves as a board member of the Rationalist Society of Australia. The Rationalist Society of Australia is actively lobbying and advocating for secular reform of the Defence Force and military commemorations. Follow our campaign here [https://rationalist.com.au/category/secular-government/religion-in-the-military/]. We have an online petition that calls for the Australian War Memorial to stop imposing religion in the Anzac Day Dawn Service. Sign the petition here. [https://www.change.org/p/stop-imposing-religion-in-the-anzac-day-dawn-service-at-the-australian-war-memorial] In 2022, Collin shared his personal story of losing faith while serving as a chaplain in an interview with ABC Radio program ‘Conversations’. Listen here [https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/conversations-collin-acton-navy-chaplain/13846728]. In 2022, The Saturday Paper reported on Collin’s push for secular reform of Defence’s chaplaincy capability. Read the article [https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/life/2022/11/19/how-religion-dominates-the-adf]. At the 2023 Secularism Australia Conference, Collin spoke about the need for secular reform of the Australian Defence Force’s frontline chaplaincy capability. Watch his speech on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOu5T7luUM0].  In 2024, Collin wrote an op-ed piece for the Pearls & Irritations website, criticising the failure of Army and Air Force to provide secular frontline wellbeing support. Read the article [https://johnmenadue.com/post/2024/01/defences-reliance-on-ordained-ministers-of-religion-is-out-of-touch/]. The theme music of The Secular Agenda podcast is called 'Curiosity', and it's by Shimmer.

The long road to removing religious exemptions from Western Australia’s equal opportunity laws

This episode highlights the lack of legislative action in Western Australia and nationally over religious exemptions to equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws, and the impact this is having particularly on LGBTIQ+ students and teachers in faith-based schools. It features an interview conducted with Brian Greig (2:16) in February. Brian is a spokesperson for national lobby group Just-Equal Australia. He was a leading advocate for same-sex marriage. He also served as a Senator for Western Australia from 1999 to 2005, as a member of the Australian Democrats. For more information about Just-Equal Australia, visit the organisation’s website here [https://www.equal.org.au/]. The Rationalist Society of Australia is advocating for the removal of religious exemptions to anti-discrimination laws. Follow our campaign here [https://rationalist.com.au/campaigns/religious-exemptions-in-discrimination-laws/]. The podcast is hosted by Si Gladman, Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. To support the work of the Rationalist Society of Australia, become a member or make a donation on our website. [https://rationalist.com.au/] The theme music of The Secular Agenda podcast is called 'Curiosity', and it's by Shimmer.

Improving access to voluntary assisted dying in Victoria

This episode highlights Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws, the new amendments to improve access for terminally ill people, and the continued efforts of opponents to wind back such laws across the country. The episode features an interview with Jane Morris (1:30), who is a long-time advocate for VAD and is President of Dying With Dignity Victoria. The organisation has been at the forefront of advocating for the end-of-life option, playing an influential role in seeing the state become the first jurisdiction to legalise VAD in 2017. In November this year, the Victorian Parliament passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Amendment Bill (2025), making amendments to the laws to improve access and address problems. This development followed the release, earlier this year, of a review into the first four years of operation of the laws. Warning: this interview includes discussion of death and suicide.  For more information about Dying With Dignity Victoria, visit the organisation’s website here [https://www.dwdv.org.au/]. The Rationalist Society of Australia is advocating for the federal government to allow telehealth for voluntary assisted dying. Follow our campaign here. [https://rationalist.com.au/category/human-rights/dying-with-dignity/] The podcast is hosted by Si Gladman, Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. To support the work of the Rationalist Society of Australia, become a member or make a donation on our website. [https://rationalist.com.au/] The theme music of The Secular Agenda podcast is called 'Curiosity', and it's by Shimmer.

Supporting survivors of cults and high-demand groups

This episode highlights the psychological impacts and other harms experienced in cults and high-demand groups, and discusses the supports cult survivors need on their path to recovery.  The episode features an interview with Maria Esguerra (2:03), a psychologist and director of the Olive Leaf Network Australia, which is dedicated to supporting former members of high-demand groups. Maria is a survivor of the Children of God cult – now known as the Family International.  Maria co-authored a submission to the Victorian parliamentary inquiry examining recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups. The Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee’s inquiry is currently conducting hearings and plans to report its findings by 30 September next year. Visit the committee website here. [https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/cofg] In September this year, the committee released the results of a questionnaire conducted as part of its inquiry. Of 317 responses, 95 per cent of people reported psychological harm, while 85 per cent reported personal restrictions and 52 per cent physical harm. Read about the questionnaire here. [https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/cofg-questionnaire-insights] Warning: this interview includes discussion of sexual abuse. The Rationalist Society of Australia is actively lobbying and advocating for coercive control laws to apply to cults and high-demand groups. Follow our campaign here. [https://rationalist.com.au/category/human-rights/coercive-control-in-cults/] The podcast is hosted by Si Gladman, Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. To support the work of the Rationalist Society of Australia, become a member or make a donation on our website. [https://rationalist.com.au/] The theme music of The Secular Agenda podcast is called 'Curiosity', and it's by Shimmer.

The Victorian inquiry examining coercive control in cult groups

This episode highlights a new parliamentary inquiry in Victoria examining cults and organised fringe groups,  the methods used to recruit and control their members, and the impacts of coercive control. The episode features an interview with Lara Kaput (02:10), a former member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses who became a whistleblower. For a number of years, Lara dedicated herself to advocacy work with the group known as Say Sorry. She has recently stepped down from Say Sorry but continues to advocate for governments to address abuses in cult groups. The Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee’s inquiry is currently open for submissions, closing at the end of July 2025. Submissions can be made via the committee's website. Visit it here [https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/cofg#:~:text=The%20Committee%20is%20looking%20into,about%20protecting%20people%20from%20harm.]. The Rationalist Society of Australia is advocating for states and territories to extend coercive control laws to cover cults and high-demand religious groups. Follow our campaign here [https://rationalist.com.au/category/human-rights/coercive-control-in-cults/]. In early April this year, The Age featured a report by Richard Baker about the establishment of the committee inquiry. Read here [https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/controlling-cults-face-parliamentary-spotlight-amid-push-for-new-laws-20250403-p5louc.html]. In May, SBS featured a report by Aleisha Orr about the inquiry and included comments from a support group for ex-cult members about its hopes that the inquiry will raise awareness about harms and drive change. Read here [https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-new-move-to-expose-the-insidious-tactics-of-australias-cults/7f32xq8pv]. In May, the Australian Christian Lobby’s Michelle Pearse warned that the Victorian parliamentary committee inquiry into cults and their coercive practices could impact the “Christian church” and restrict freedom of religion. Read here [https://rationalist.com.au/christian-lobby-views-cult-inquiry-as-a-threat-to-religious-freedom/]. The Secular Agenda podcast is hosted by Si Gladman, Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. To support the work of the Rationalist Society of Australia, become a member or make a donation on our website. [https://rationalist.com.au/] The theme music of the podcast is called 'Curiosity', and it's by Shimmer.