This chapter begins with a brief overview of the principles and policies that paved the way for the present governing legislation in Auatralia. It considers and differentiates between religion and other systems of belief that ground the conscientiousness of contemporary objections. It then outlines the relevant framework of laws, courts and regulatory bodies. This is followed by an analysis of the role of conscientious objection in a fundamental rights context before the chapter turns to examine the caselaw illustrating how conscientious objection and religion/belief currently intersect in relation to: public health care; social care; national defence/asylum seekers; education; employment; and provision of goods and services.