Anthony Albanese threatens to shelve religious discrimination law changes

Prime minister tells caucus bills will only proceed with bipartisan support, saying now is not the time for divisive debate

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The Albanese government has threatened to shelve two draft bills on changes to religious discrimination laws, citing concerns about divisive debate amid heightened Islamophobia and anti-semitism, unless the opposition offers agrees to its “balanced” approach.

A long-awaited report from the Australian Law Reform Commission on legislative avenues the government could take is expected to be tabled in parliament by Thursday, after it was handed to the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, in December.

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