E/CN.4/1998/6/Add.1 page 2 Introduction 1. From 17 February to 1 March 1997, the Special Rapporteur on the question of religious intolerance visited Australia at the invitation of the Australian authorities in accordance with his mandate under Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/23 (encouraging Governments to invite the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries to enable him to fulfil his mandate even more effectively) and General Assembly resolution 50/183 of 22 December 1995 (inviting the Special Rapporteur, within the terms of his mandate and in the context of the formulation of recommendations, to take into account the experiences of various countries and the most effective measures in promoting religious freedom and countering all forms of intolerance). 2. During his mission, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Sydney (17-20 February, 28 February-1 March), Melbourne (21-22 February), Canberra (23-25 February) and Alice Springs (26-28 February) to meet official representatives at the Federal level (Ministers for Foreign Affairs; for Schools, Vocational Education and Training; for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; for Justice; and for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) and at the level of the States and Territories. He had talks in Sydney with representatives of the Department of Training and Education, the Anti-Discrimination Board, the Law Reform Commission, the Ethnic Affairs Commission and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission. 3. The Special Rapporteur held consultations with non-governmental human rights organizations and representatives of the Aboriginal, Baha'i, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim communities and with the Church of Scientology and The Family. 4. The Special Rapporteur also contacted independent personalities, including Mr. Michael Kirby, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Mrs. Juliet Sheen, human rights consultant, and Mrs. Moira Raymer, President of the National Children's Youth Law Centre. 5. The Special Rapporteur wishes to thank the Australian authorities and the representative of the United Nations Information Centre for their excellent cooperation during the preparations for the visit and during the visit itself. 6. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur focused his analysis on the situation of tolerance and non-discrimination based on religion or belief in the Australian legal system and in Australian society. I. TOLERANCE AND NON-DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RELIGION OR BELIEF IN THE AUSTRALIAN LEGAL SYSTEM 7. The Special Rapporteur examined the treatment and guarantees of tolerance and non-discrimination based on religion or belief in the Australian legal system in the context of the Australian Constitution and of Federal laws and State and Territory laws.