A group of religious leaders have launched a Federal Court challenge to the NSW and Victorian health orders, arguing they should be allowed the same freedoms as supermarkets and liquor stores. They are seeking exemptions from measures that restrict freedoms in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic, which has thrown NSW and Victoria into lockdown. Rabbis Menachem Kamenetzky and Rabbi Zvi Telsner are seeking freedoms ahead of the observation of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur over the next two weeks. They are being joined in the action by Sydney-based Baptist Reverends Christopher Athavle and Robert Ayoub, as well as Presbyterian Reverend Robin Tso, from NSW’s Hunter Region. Their barrister Peter King told the court during a hearing on Friday the need to curb the spread of the Delta variant could be better weighed against the rights to freedom of religion. “How could it be justifiable that a situation arises where the fundamental religious rights of ordinary people and their religious leaders cannot be exercised when commercial entities including liquor stores can?” Mr King told the court. “There is very significant evidence from our witnesses, including Rabbi Kamenetzky and the Reverend Avale about the harm that these lockdowns are doing […]
