Date: 6 May 2022
Court: Supreme Court of Queensland
Judicial Officer: Burns J
Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) Sections: s 48
Rights Considered: N/A
Other Legislation: Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld) s 76; Judicial Review Act 1991 (Qld) ss 20, 25, 30, 43; Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld) r 566, 569
Keywords: Public Law Considerations: Interpretation; Political Freedoms: Freedom of religion, thought, conscience, and belief

The applicant sought judicial review of a decision which refused approval to deliver Satanic religious instruction in State schools. The judgment alluded to a submission made by the applicant which argued that s 48 of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) required the phrase ‘religious denomination or society’ to be interpreted in a way that is compatible with human rights: at [44]. His Honour did not consider that this provision was applicable on the facts, and thus no substantive comments were made about human rights.

Visit the judgment: Bell v State of Queensland [2022] QSC 80