Former Premier Bob Carr says both New South Wales and Australia risk having a charter of rights that will curb religious freedom unless churches and other groups stand up and express their views.

Mr Carr was introduced by the Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, at a lecture at Parliament House in Sydney, organised by Family Voice Australia.

As well as proposals for a charter of rights for Australians, Mr Carr referred to the religious vilification laws which had been introduced in Victoria and had been used against a Christian pastor because of his comments about islamic theology.

“Why on earth do we want to involve courts and government in determining arguments and contentions between different religious faiths? My advice is " don’t touch it.”

But Mr Carr said the bill had been approved in Victoria because there had not been enough opposition when the laws were being considered.

Two inquiries are underway at the moment and Mr Carr advised Christians and members of other faiths to speak up against both.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is finalising a report on religious freedom and is tipped to recommend laws on religious vilification.

Moore College Lecturer Andrew Cameron, who chairs the Social Issues Exceutive, presented a submission on behalf of the Diocese to the Human Rights Commission inquiry.

There’s also a nationwide inquiry, headed by Jesuit priest Father Frank Brennan, on the possibility of a charter of rights.

Mr Carr said such a charter was an alternative to a Bill of Rights, which its backers had failed to introduce.

The former Premier said “If you have a charter….striking the balance is wrenched away from the people you elect and who makes the decisions? Judges. Non-elected Judges.”

Dean Jensen said he believed Christians should take Mr Carr’s advice to contact their MPs because such laws will be “a matter for concern in the years to come”.