South Australians would be free to refuse COVID-19 vaccines on religious grounds under legislation proposed ahead of the March state election by Family First.
The party's lead candidate in the upper house, former Labor MP Tom Kenyon, says if elected he will immediately bring religious freedom legislation before the parliament.
"People of good will can have different views on whether to take the vaccine - personally I am vaccinated and so is my family," Mr Kenyon said.
"But when governments punish good people because of their faith-based decision not to be vaccinated, then action must be taken."
"Under Family First's Religious Freedom Bill, South Australians of faith would be able to use an exemption based on their conscience."
More broadly, the Family First legislation would ensure "religious freedoms were safeguarded".
"The rights of religious organisations to practise their religion freely, and employ staff that hold the same values, need to be protected," Mr Kenyon said.
"The bill will not seek to change current protections to students from discrimination."
Family First was relaunched as a political party in SA last year.
It previously held seats in the Legislative Council before merging with the Australian Conservatives in 2017.
The Australian Conservatives, which were headed up by former SA Senator Cory Bernardi, disbanded in 2019.
