"Although changing the opt-out system to an opt-in system is a very good improvement, it will not stop the segregation from taking place. Nor will it justify or even consider why we would allow the evangelising of children at a secular state school."

Cooper said many parents are unaware their child's school has a religious instruction programme and that some parents have been forced to repeatedly opt their child out because the school defaulted to inclusion at the beginning of every term.

The Education and Training Bill introduced to Parliament in December proposes that "religious instruction by schools will change from an opt-out to an opt-in process".

It is not currently compulsory for students to attend religious instruction or observances held by their school, but if parents or guardians do not want their children to attend, they must inform the school principal of this in writing.

The Bill notes how this has "resulted in some children being placed in religious instruction sessions without the full and informed consent of parents and caregivers who may not have been aware of the religious instruction sessions occurring".

The legislation says, "The Bill will address this by requiring schools that provide religious instruction to operate an opt-in process. Schools can continue to operate an opt-out process for religious observances."

Cooper said, "I applaud the apparent intent behind the question of religious instruction in secular state schools... my feeling, however, is that the Bill does not go far enough to correct the current situation which is hugely problematic."

Cooper took issue with the legislation's proposal that schools may provide additional religious instruction to students if the majority of parents of students at the school agree and if it doesn't affect the rest of the curriculum.