The government has introduced its religious discrimination bill in an attempt to secure extra protections from state-based discrimination laws.
It's been in the works for a few years now. It was first promised in the wake of the same-sex marriage debate in 2017 and then taken by the Coalition to the last election, with a first draft released in 2019.
After delays, Prime Minister Scott Morrison personally introduced the bill in Parliament today.
Here's a quick look at what's changed in the bill, and what people are saying so far.
What are the main points?
After several drafts, the proposed legislation released on Tuesday is a watered-down take on earlier versions.
It wants to make sure "statements of belief" are not considered discriminatory, as long as they don't threaten, intimidate, harass or vilify a person or would be considered malicious to a "reasonable person".
But a controversial stronger provision to protect someone from being sacked for expressing any religious belief — the so-called Israel Folau clause that was included in an earlier draft — has been scrapped.
So has a proposal to allow medical workers to refuse treatment to people for religious reasons.
The bill also spells out that religious bodies can "generally" act in accordance with their faith in certain situations without it being discriminatory.
For example, the bill says it wouldn't be discrimination if a religious primary school required all of its students and staff to practise its particular religion, meaning it could turn away people who don't.
The same would apply to other organisations such as religious hospitals, aged care facilities and disability service providers.
But any religious schools or institutions would have to have a publicly available policy that clearly explained how those religious views would be enforced.
Under the law, a religious discrimination commissioner position would also be created and would sit within the Human Rights Commission.
Who's for and against it?
Despite the changes to the legislation, many conservative MPs are happy with the compromises, describing the proposed law as "shield, not a sword".
Wendy Francis from the Australian Christian Lobby, one of the most outspoken groups on the proposal, said the organisation was satisfied with the bill.
"I'd say that, overall, we're actually encouraged and I think people of faith in Australia can be encouraged," she said.
But some moderate government MPs have voiced concerns about what giving protections for statements of religious belief might mean in practice, and whether the bill could allow schools to sack gay teachers.
Equality Australia, an LGBTIQ advocacy organisation, is also worried statements currently considered discriminatory could be protected under the proposed law.
"When … a nurse says to a patient with HIV that their HIV is a punishment by God, for example … which arguably constitutes discrimination today and which could constitute a statement of belief, would be protected under the law under this bill," Anna Brown from Equality Australia said.
On Wednesday, the federal opposition hadn't announced yet whether it would support the bill, with leader Anthony Albanese saying he hadn't seen it yet.
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has said protecting religious freedoms is important but shouldn't come at the cost of reducing protection from other forms of discrimination.
What happens now?
The legislation has been introduced this week, and will be debated and voted on in the House of Representatives next week.
From there it'll go to the Senate, but it's likely it'll be sent to a committee inquiry, given some of the concerns raised by government and crossbench MPs.
Once that inquiry reports back, it'll go to a final vote, which could happen early next year — before the next federal election.
Whether it becomes law is another question, given the bill that gets voted on may end up being different again from what we have now if it's scrutinised by a committee.
If the government holds on to its slim majority in the lower house, then it'll be able to pass it there no worries.
But unless it has the support of Labor or key crossbenchers, the government won't be able to get it through the Senate.
Labor's expressed in-principle support for the idea of protecting religious freedoms but wants to consider the bill before deciding on its stance.
Which senators will back and which will try to block the bill from becoming law should be clearer closer to the vote next year.