Support for religious education in Australia’s government schools has reached a historic low, according to new polling that shows a dramatic collapse over the past quarter century.
The Roy Morgan survey found Australians evenly divided on the issue, with 50% supporting weekly religious classes in public schools and 50% opposed. This represents a seismic shift from 1997–1998, when nearly three-quarters of Australians (72%) supported such teaching.
The poll reveals that attitudes towards religion in schools have become increasingly polarised along political lines.
- Labor voters: Support has fallen to 44%, down from 68% in the late 1990s.
- Coalition voters: Still a majority in favour at 61%, but well below the 79% recorded a generation ago.
- Greens voters: The most secular group, with only 31% backing religion in schools.
- One Nation supporters: Largely supportive at 57%, reflecting the party’s traditionalist voter base.
Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine said the numbers show that “what was once a bipartisan consensus has become a deeply partisan divide, reflecting Australia’s broader shift towards secularism and changing expectations about the role of religion in public life.”
Generational and Cultural Change
The decline in support has coincided with broader cultural and demographic changes in Australian society. Census data over the past two decades has shown a steady rise in the proportion of Australians identifying as having “no religion.” In 2021, nearly 40% of Australians fell into this category, compared with just 17% in 2001.
Younger generations, in particular, are driving the change. Millennials and Gen Z Australians are significantly less likely to affiliate with religion and less likely to see faith as belonging in the classroom. Older generations remain more supportive, but their influence is shrinking as younger cohorts shape the public conversation.
The Curriculum Debate
The survey results are likely to fuel ongoing debates about how religion should—or should not—feature in public school education. Religious instruction in Australia is often delivered by volunteers from faith-based groups, and critics argue it amounts to proselytising rather than neutral education.
Some education experts advocate replacing religious classes with “comparative religion” or “ethics” programs, which would teach students about a range of belief systems—including secular philosophies—without endorsing any single faith. Others insist that Christian teachings in particular are part of Australia’s cultural heritage and should remain part of the curriculum.
State governments have taken different approaches. Victoria and New South Wales have scaled back religious instruction in recent years, while Queensland and some regional areas continue to provide broader access.
A Turning Point?
The sharp decline in support suggests that religion in public schools could soon become a minority position in national politics. For decades, religious education was considered uncontroversial and enjoyed widespread bipartisan support. Now, it risks becoming a flashpoint issue, dividing communities along political, generational, and cultural lines.
The findings also raise questions about the future of religious institutions in Australia more broadly. If younger Australians increasingly see religion as a private matter rather than a public one, pressure will grow on governments to prioritise secular values in public services, from education to health.
The Bigger Picture
Australia’s experience mirrors trends in many Western democracies, where public institutions are gradually becoming more secular. The collapse of support for religion in schools underscores not only a political shift but also a profound cultural change in how Australians view identity, diversity, and the role of belief in public life.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the era of unquestioned support for religious education in public schools is over.
