E/CN.4/1998/6/Add.1 page 21 would be difficult to reconcile religious practice and the exercise of uninterrupted professional activity. Clearly there can be clashes between western values and Aboriginal values. In fact, a campaign to inform non-Aboriginal employers would be one way of demonstrating the Aboriginals' wish to work while practising their religion. It is quite possible to reach work agreements allowing special leave arrangements for the Aboriginals. Like other religious communities, the latter also claim recognition of their religious days in the workplace. In public employment, the principle of positive discrimination in favour of Aboriginals has been applied, especially to allow them access to teaching jobs, thus showing that it is not impossible to reconcile employment and Aboriginal religious practices. 101. In the field of education, the authorities' policy is aimed at the full integration, fulfilment and recognition of Aboriginals, partly by facilitating their access to education as students and teachers and partly through school curricula making non-Aboriginals aware of Aboriginal culture and religion. Some Aboriginals have expressed the wish to be more closely consulted in the preparation of school curricula. 102. The authorities' efforts to improve the situation of Aboriginals are therefore genuine, but need strengthening to ensure that economic interests (employment of Aboriginals, economic development projects and sacred sites) are fairly reconciled with those of the Aboriginals and to ensure that expressions of political intolerance (such as the speech by MP Pauline Hanson) are not allowed to affect the fragile, slow process of recognition and assertion of Aboriginals in Australian society. III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 103. The Special Rapporteur considered tolerance and non-discrimination based on religion or belief in the Australian legal system and in Australian society. His analysis concerned the situation of religions and belief in general and in particular the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu minorities and the Church of Scientology and The Family; he paid particular attention to the consideration of religious and non-religious matters and relations between religions and society and the State. 104. In the light of his study and the consultations he undertook in the course of his visit, the Special Rapporteur considers that the situation in Australia with regard to tolerance and non-discrimination based on religion is generally very satisfactory. There are a few exceptions to broadly positive conditions which should be mentioned, however, and which should be dealt with and put right. 105. An undeniable factor of religious tolerance in Australia is the country's attachment to democracy, its sound democratic institutions and the Government's multicultural policy fostering a culture of tolerance and aimed at the integration rather than the assimilation of all components of society; to that may be added an approach to secularity which favours not the rejection of religions and new religious movements (or sects), but equality for all under the prevailing law. This democracy, a source of tolerance in general and religious tolerance in particular, is firmly rooted in a culture and tradition of tolerance.