Good Lord, where did Labor go?

Labor cannot afford to welcome outsiders with open arms but then turn around and tell them to keep their beliefs to themselves. Five minutes ago, secularism meant freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. If Labor like open borders, they also need to have open minds.

They could begin by making believers of all stripes feel more welcome and valued in their caucus. It's not uncommon to hear of MPs of faith within the Labor party feeling increasingly sidelined for their convictions. "Few active Christians remain in the parliamentary party," writes Parkinson.

Second, Labor needs to step back from such an aggressively secular vision to more moderate, mainstream values in line with the people they hope to represent. Their current platform might resonate with activists and inner-city types, but not with middle Australia.

Writes Parkinson, "On social issues, Labor is now much closer to the radical Left than to the Labor Party of Hawke and Keating." Labor would be better off leaving radicalism to the fringe parties, where it belongs.

Third, Australia needs to know that the ALP is committed to religious freedom. In theory, Labor supported the Ruddock review, but unlike the Coalition, they didn't commit to any of the inquiry's recommendations.

In the lead up to the election, Labor also set themselves in opposition to religious schools, moving against their right to choose staff who teach their values. When Christian leaders wrote to both major party leaders for clarity around religious freedom, Bill Shorten didn't respond.

Finally, Labor would do well to demonstrate to people of faith that they're a valued and respected part of mainstream society. This is about more than Bill Shorten's 'Christian-shaming', mentioned earlier.

Shorten should have learnt from Kevin Rudd, himself a Christian. For the most part, Rudd had a great track record of giving voice to people of faith. But consider the words of the ABC's Andrew West on Kevin Rudd's demise:

"Then, on the eve of his thumping defeat at the 2013 election, Rudd went on ABC's Q&A program. In response to a question from a pastor―asked more in sorrow than anger―about why Rudd had changed his position on same-sex marriage, Rudd tried to humiliate the man, almost spitting the word 'mate' at him."

Simply put, Aussies vote against anyone who treats them with contempt-and Australians of faith are no exception to this. As John Wilson, moderator-general for the Presbyterian Church of Australia, has said, ordinary Australians want "a country where it's okay to disagree and express that disagreement, to hold opposing views and not be marginalised for it."

None of this should be a big ask for the ALP.

The Australia Labor Party began with strong Christian roots. It was born in the late 19th century out of the emerging labour movement in Australia which was in turn inspired by those fighting for workers' rights in Britain.