Supporting survivors of cults and high-demand groups

The campaign urging Australians to mark ‘No religion’ at the 2026 Census

This episode features an interview with Michael Dove, the spokesperson for the ‘Census 2026 – Not Religious?’ campaign. The joint campaign is urging Australians to mark ‘No religion’ if they are no longer religious at the national Census, being held in August this year. Michael speaks on how the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) ended up deciding to re-use the flawed question for religious affiliation. He also talks about what the joint campaign will be doing in the coming weeks and months. The ‘Census 2026 – Not Religious?’ campaign is being supported by the Rationalist Society of Australia, Humanists Australia, National Secular Lobby, Humanists Victoria, the Secular Association of NSW, Australian Skeptics (Victoria Branch), and Recovering from Religion Australia. Visit the campaign’s website here [https://censusnotreligious.org.au/]. Members of the public can support the campaign and help to amplify its messages. Find out how here [https://censusnotreligious.org.au/donate/]. Michael previously spoke to this podcast in 2023, during the ABS’ public consultation phase on the Census questions. Listen to episode 13, titled: ‘Census: The ABS proposal to change the religion question’. In recent months, the Rationalist Society of Australia has revealed details about how the ABS opted to re-used the leading religion question. You can find our reporting on the issue here on our website [https://rationalist.com.au/campaigns/census/]. The RSA's 'Rationale' magazine also published a three-part feature series written by Si Gladman, titled ‘The Census Files’. Read part 1 here [https://rationalemagazine.com/index.php/2026/01/24/the-census-files-when-the-bishops-pushed-back-part-1/]. On the censusnotreligious.org.au website, you can find a timeline of events here [https://censusnotreligious.org.au/census-question-background/].  The theme music of The Secular Agenda podcast is called 'Curiosity', and it's by Shimmer.

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.