Our democratic institutions are meant to be secular and inclusive for all. Why does NSW Parliament start every day with the Lord's Prayer?
Abigail has moved to establish an Inquiry into the appropriateness of this practice, tabling the following motion:
(1) That the Procedure Committee inquire into and report on the appropriateness of and alternatives to the recitation of the prayers under Standing Order 28 (the Lord’s Prayer) at the commencement of proceedings each day, including the appropriateness and suitability of alternatives including:
(a) replacing the Lord’s Prayer with a minute’s silence for prayer and reflection,
(b) replacing the Lord’s Prayer with prayers from a number of different religions, to be recited either together each day or in turn on separate days,
(c) replacing the Lord’s Prayer with a secular reflection on Members’ responsibility to the people of New South Wales, and
(d) the abolition of the Lord’s Prayer, without replacing the reading of the Lord’s Prayer with an alternative practice.
(2) That the committee reports by 30 November 2023.