Western Australia MP Calls to Replace Lord's Prayer with Moment of Silence in Parliament

A debate has reignited in Western Australia's parliament over whether to continue reciting the Lord's Prayer to open each sitting, with a Labor MP advocating for its replacement with a moment of silence. The proposal comes as part of the first major review of the lower house's rules since 1999.

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Unfortunately, I and a number of other members avoid coming into the [Legislative Assembly] for the Acknowledgement of Country because if you do you are forced to remain there for the Lord's Prayer.

Dave Kelly, the Labor MP for Bassendean, argues that a Christian prayer is "no longer appropriate" for a diverse, multicultural community like Western Australia. He stated in a submission to the review committee that many members avoid the opening Acknowledgement of Country because doing so forces them to remain for the Lord's Prayer. "WA is now a proud multicultural community welcoming citizens from all around the [world], with many religions and no religion," Kelly wrote. "Now more than ever we should strive to make everyone feel welcome and included."

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WA is now a proud multicultural community welcoming citizens from all around the [world], with many religions and no religion. Now more than ever we should strive to make everyone feel welcome and included.

Kelly also linked the prayer to the experiences of survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, particularly those perpetrated by the Christian Brothers. "You cannot underestimate the triggering effect on survivors when they come to this place and see that the [Legislative Assembly] starts every day with a Christian prayer," he wrote. "We must do everything reasonable to ensure the parliament demonstrates to survivors that we see them and we stand with them. And that we no longer side with the institutions that are responsible for the abuse."

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You cannot underestimate the triggering effect on survivors when they come to this place and see that the [Legislative Assembly] starts every day with a Christian prayer.

The discussion paper released by the committee acknowledges the Lord's Prayer as a "long-standing parliamentary tradition," noting that any change "raises broader questions about the balance between tradition and modernisation." The Australian Capital Territory is the only Australian parliament that has discontinued the practice, opting instead for members to "pray or reflect on our responsibilities." Kelly hopes such a change would make parliament more inclusive, allowing members to focus on their duties to the people of Western Australia.

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It's an attempt to make the parliament more inclusive of everybody, regardless of their religious belief or regardless of whether they have a religious belief at all. The focus should be on what are we here to do today for the people of Western Australia.