While I understand that people can focus on the specific and overlook the obvious, I must say that the whole homosexual thing has clouded the wider issue when it comes to Rugby Australia. Let’s unpack Israel Folau’s tweet a little further and see what we come up with…

Folau tweeted: “Warning – Drunks, Homosexuals, Adulterers, Liars, Fornicators, Thieves, Atheists, Idolaters. HELL AWAITS YOU. REPENT! ONLY JESUS SAVES”.

Now, I could point out that it’s probably because of the stagnating wages under the Coalition that only Jesus saves and the rest of us need to use our credit cards to pay those rising energy costs, but I’m sure that it’s somehow Labor’s fault and not just because He’s well-connected and His father found him a position in the family business.

Let’s ignore all of that and look at the rest of the tweet. “Drunks, Adulterers, Liars, Fornicators, Thieves, Atheists, Idolaters. HELL AWAITS YOU.” While the bit about idolaters may have referred to the lump of coal that the government front bench passed round with such adoration, the fact remains that he had quite a list there. Speaking personally, I probably qualify on a number of fronts so if it turns out that my drinking isn’t enough to get me past the bouncers on the gates of Hell, then I’m sure that I can qualify one way or another…

As can many, many other people…

Surely, surely an employer has the right to sack an employee who goes on social media to criticise their boss. After all, some of the head honchos Rugby Australia may be drunks, liars, fornicators or any combination of the descriptions. Are those politicians who have had many attempts at eliminating unfair dismissal laws suddenly telling me that a boss has no rights when it an employee tells them that their lifestyle is sinful?

Imagine for a moment that someone on Barnaby’s staff were to have similar views to Israel Folau:

Barnaby – Good morning.

Staffer – Good morning, sinner.

Barnaby – Would you make me a cup of coffee?

Staffer – Coffee is the work of Satan.

Barnaby – Yes but I’d like one.

Staffer – I’ll be you would. I’ve heard about your sins. 

Barnaby – Look, you work for me and I want a coffee. Now go and get me one or else.

Staffer – Or else what?

Barnaby – Or else I’ll dismiss you.

Staffer – You can’t because my religious beliefs…

Barnaby – It’s not your beliefs, it’s your refusal to obey my instruction…

Staffer – You’re going to Hell.

Barnaby – You can’t tell me that I’m going to Hell. 

Staffer – Yes, I can. The legislation you introduced protects me from this sort of harassment.

Barnaby – I’m not harassing you. I’m just asking for a coffee and for you to stop telling me that I’m going to Hell.

Staffer – This is an infringement of my freedom of speech. I should be allowed to say what I like without things like that stupid 18C…

Barnaby – Oh, go to Hell.

Staffer – You can’t say that! Only I can tell people that they can go to Hell!!

Ok, perhaps I’m oversimplifying things. But I can’t see how you can frame legislation which stops doctors from insisting that their receptionist can’t hand out anti-abortion material while simultaneously exempting religious schools and organisations from anti-discrimination laws. What happens when St Agnes of The Bleeding Heart tries to sack their receptionist because of the photos which are appearing on the internet and the receptionist replies that the naked acts she was performing with a goat were part of her Satanist religion and as such couldn’t be part of her employment contract?

Or are we moving to the situation where the government is just going to say that they’re passing legislation which says that all the people they think are ok have certain rights and the rest of us can just go to Hell because that’s where we’ll end up anyway?