The question of politics and the role that religion should play in politics is the subject of much debate and difference of opinion. In Australia, it is widely accepted that there is a separation between church and state and that Australia is a secular nation. However, is this the case? Does Australia have a separation of church and state? If not, what role should religion play in the nation's political discussions? What role has religion previously played in Australian politics? What role does religion currently play in Australian politics? Given Australia's demographics and the state of religion within Australian society, what role should religion play in Australian politics? Or should religion play no role in Australian political discourse? In order to uncover the role religion should play in Australian politics, it is important to examine the role it has played in Australian politics and the role it is legally able to play. The separation of church and state in Australia is different from much of the Western world. Although it is generally assumed that there is a clear separation between church and state in Australia, the reality is more complex. According to Hogan (1981, p. 216), all state constitutions, with the exception of that of Tasmania, make no mention of the nature of church-state relations. It says that “states are constitutionally free to establish any religion, suppress any religious organization” and “deny many aspects of religious liberty” (Hogan 1981, p. 217). At the Commonwealth level, the Constitution provides no clarity regarding what role, if any, religion should play in the governance of the nation (Ash 2010, p.120). As if to intentionally make it difficult to decipher ... middle of paper ... conservative Christianity in Australian electoral politics. Traffic [Parkville], pp17-35, accessed 11 May 2014, The Australian Humanist 2011, “What is the future of religion in Australian politics? » The Australian Humanist, vol.102, pp.10-13, Humanities & Social Sciences Collection, accessed 3 May 2014, Zimmerman, A 2014, 'Australian Constitution: Constituting a Christian Commonwealth: The Christian Foundations of Australia's Constitution', News Weekly, vol.2916, pp.15-16, APAFT, accessed May 11 2014,