Many local councils in Australia commence their meetings with prayer. Case law in the United Kingdom holds that English local councils do not have power to commence their meetings with prayer. This article argues that the reasoning of the UK case law applies with equal force in Australia with the result that the practice of many Australian local councils of incorporating prayers into their formal meetings is unlawful.

中文翻译：

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在市政厅工作的父亲：地方议会有权祈祷吗？

澳大利亚的许多地方议会都是通过祈祷开始会议的。英国的判例法认为，英国地方议会无权以祈祷开始会议。本文认为，英国判例法的推论在澳大利亚具有同等效力，其结果是许多澳大利亚地方议会将祈祷纳入正式会议的做法是非法的。