This column is about lawlessness, and what your government is doing in your name. Or, more accurately, how it's spending your money while dodging the oversight of Parliament in direct contravention of the law.

It is about the High Court challenge to the National School Chaplaincy Program and the reason why - whatever you think of school chaplains, love or hate 'em - you should be hoping the challenge succeeds. Any Australian who cares about the primacy of the law over the electoral fortunes of the political party in power should.

On the surface, Ron Williams v Commonwealth of Australia is about Williams, a father of six who wants his children to attend a secular school. By secular he means a school that is neutral when it comes to religion - a school that teaches kids about religions but doesn't promote belief over non-belief or the belief system of one faith over another.

So Williams sent his brood to the local state school, assuming it would fit the bill. It didn't. Instead, his children were asked for gold coins to take for Scripture Union on crazy hair day or made to attend assemblies where the chaplain presided and a rap song was played extolling the virtues of chaplains over teachers as adults kids could trust.

Religiously defending the right to remain secular