https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/15/charities-receive-an-additional-50m-from-government-to-help-with-bushfire-relief

Survivors are insulted & abused when their government directs funds through the most abusive religions identified by a Royal Commission.

Is this an example of how our government continually forces a secular country into engagement with religion in what is supposed to be a secular country - it is not equal, not proportional and not representative and is possibly where a royal commission is truly needed.

If Australia had enshrined the Universal Declaration this could be the most damaging and the most ignoble human rights crime ever to come out of Australia.

These two religious institutions are reviled by a large proportion of the community due to being identified in a Royal Commission as being responsible for the rape and cover of tens of thousands of crimes against children. These are the most serious crimes possible and yet our government continues to fund them and to use them as a way to engage with the people of Australia.

Are these appropriate institutions to manage these funds or is this another way the PM is favouring religious institutions when his role is to uphold the secular nature of our country.

Subject: 	re: Charities receive an additional $50m from government to help with bushfire relief
Date: 	Wed, 15 Jan 2020 08:24:56 +1000
From: 	JohnB 
To: 	sarah.martin@theguardian.com


I have to admit that I was somewhat stunned that a chief political correspondent could be so forgetful when I read your article. For me it prompted asking again if we actually do live in a secular country when 80% of charity funds are directly channeled to the people of Australia through two of the most abusive religions identified by a recent Royal Commission. This is neither proportional, appropriate, timely, secular or representative of the wants of the Australian people and the evidence of the Royal Commission.

Today thousands of survivors and their children and families of institutional abuse are being retraumatized, reabandoned and reabused by this action. 

As well this method of supporting Australians adds a religious barrier for every secular Australian in need of support. 

JohnB