Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon's department says Weet-Bix manufacturer Sanitarium - which advertises for job candidates who share its ''Christian-based principles'' - is not a religious body, but would not say whether the company's actions were unlawful.

Sanitarium was founded and is operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which is not required to lodge the company's financial reports.

A spokeswoman for Ms Roxon said Sanitarium was not a religious body because it was not 'established for religious purposes.'

A number of its online job ads require successful candidates to have Christian principles. A cereal machine operator job ad says: ''If you share our passion for what we do . . . and you are aligned with our Christian-based principles, this will be a great opportunity for you.''

A Sanitarium spokeswoman has told Fairfax Media that religious belief ''was not a condition of employment''.