Australians are evenly divided on whether religion should be taught in public schools, with half supporting it and half opposed.
Pollster Roy Morgan revealed that attitudes have shifted significantly across generations.
In 2022-2023, Australians for the first time leaned against teaching religion in government schools at least once a week, though by a narrow margin, with 51 per cent said “no” and 49 per cent “yes.”
By the year to June 2025, the balance had evened out completely, with the latest published polling showing a 50-50 split.
This represents a stark change from 1997-1998, when 72 per cent of Australians answered “yes” to the same question.
Roy Morgan found that opinions now largely align with political leanings.
Support among Labor voters, historically strong, has fallen to 44 per cent in favour and 56 per cent opposed.
Coalition voters remain supportive at 61 per cent, though this has dropped from 79 per cent in 1997-98.
Greens voters show the biggest shift, with around 61 per cent supported religious teaching in 1997-98, compared with just 31 per cent in 2024-2025.
One Nation voters continue to favour religious education overall, but support has declined from 75 per cent to 57 per cent over the same period.
Among independents and minor party voters, opposition now sits at 52 per cent, up from 30 per cent in 1997-1998.
“What was once a bipartisan consensus has become a deeply partisan divide that reflects Australia’s broader shift towards secularism and changing expectations about the role of religion in public life,” Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said.
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