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Australia’s first systematic report documenting legal and cultural pressures on Christians is set to launch in May at Parliament House, Canberra, and organisers are urging Christians nationwide to contribute their experiences through a national survey before the report is finalised.

The Australian Christian Freedom Index (ACFI) is a comprehensive annual report measuring religious freedom across all eight Australian jurisdictions. Its inaugural edition covers the 2025 calendar year and draws on a national survey as one of its central data sources.

Organisers are aiming for 10,000 responses — the larger the sample, the harder the findings are to dismiss.

No equivalent report has previously existed for Australia. International indices from bodies such as Aid to the Church in Need and Open Doors document Christian persecution globally, but none apply systematic, granular scrutiny to Australia.

What the Report Covers

The inaugural report includes a legal and legislative environment audit, documentation of hostility faced by Christians in 2025, and dedicated sections on pressures facing Christian schools and hospitals.

A state-by-state legislative scorecard assesses all eight jurisdictions against 25 weighted indicators — ranging from anti-discrimination exemptions for religious organisations to conscience protections in healthcare and restrictions on school chaplaincy. Each jurisdiction receives a score, producing a ranked index of legislative freedom across the country.

The report’s tone is deliberately sober. It acknowledges Australia continues to enjoy comparatively high levels of religious freedom while documenting where that freedom is narrowing. Its core concern is structural: Australian law increasingly treats religious freedom as an exemption to be granted rather than a right to be protected.

Take the Survey

The national survey measures both personal experience and broader perceptions of Christian freedom. It asks whether respondents have felt pressured to conceal their faith at work, faced disadvantage because of their biblical convictions, or experienced hostility or harassment.

Responses are anonymous, and verification details are destroyed once the survey closes.

Christians who believe their experiences are already known should consider that documented evidence carries weight that anecdote does not. Survey data will inform parliamentary briefings, church advocacy, media coverage, and more.

The survey is open now and takes approximately three to five minutes to complete.

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