Australian parliament considers changing Lord's Prayer

The speaker of Australia's parliament has called for a debate on the practice of reciting the Lord's Prayer at the beginning of parliamentary business.

Since 1901 the Lord's Prayer has been recited at the start of every parliamentary sitting.

Harry Jenkins, speaker of the House of Representatives, said that the debate should focus on whether the prayer should be reworded or replaced completely.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, he said, "One of the most controversial aspects of the parliamentary day I found from practically day two is the prayer."

His comments come shortly after Rob Oakeshott, a new independent MP, expressed his disappointment that there was no acknowledgement of the indigenous people of Australia at the start of each sitting.

In his maiden speech Oakeshott said, "I ask you to revisit this question of daily acknowledgement within this chamber for traditional owners, a simple symbolic but respectful act which will assist in building a better Australia," reports AFP.

Jenkins said that some form of recognition to the indigenous population would be in step with the apology to Aboriginals, made by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in January for injustices during in the last 220 years of white settlement.

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans said, however, that it was unlikely things would change. Evans noted that traditional land owners were mentioned every year at the opening of parliament and at other formal Parliament House functions.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Evans said, "We had this debate in the Senate a few years ago when there was talk about having a moment's reflection rather than the Lord's Prayer but the strong view among Senators was that the Lord's Prayer ought to remain - I wouldn't expect any change."