Page 4150 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 24 October 2018
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seeks to discrimination against teachers and staff, based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status. The report recommends:
The Commonwealth should amend the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to provide that religious schools can discriminate in relation to the employment of staff, and the engagement of contractors, on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status provided that:
• The discrimination is founded in the precepts of the religion.
• The school has a publicly available policy outlining its position in relation to the matter and explaining how the policy will be enforced.
• The school provides a copy of the policy in writing to employees and contractors and prospective employees and contractors.
The seventh recommendation of the review continues the attack on LGBTIQ young people by specifically seeking to discriminate against students. It states:
The Commonwealth should amend the Sex Discrimination Act to provide that religious schools may discriminate in relation to students on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status provided that:
• The discrimination is founded in the precepts of the religion.
• The school has a publicly available policy outlining its position in relation to the matter.
• The school provides a copy of the policy in writing to prospective students and their parents at the time of enrolment and to existing students and their parents at any time the policy is updated.
• The school has regard to the best interests of the child as the primary consideration in its conduct.
If enacted in legislation, both of these recommendations will be hurtful and harmful to LGBTIQ Australians. When discussing the review’s recommendations, it is important to acknowledge that the current Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have both spoken out against these recommendations. However, we know the conservative wing of the Liberal Party, including the ACT’s Senator Zed Seselja, will continue to push for the changes intended by the recommendations. That is why it is important that all members in this Assembly affirm their support for students and staff in Canberra and ensure that ACT law protects LGBTIQ Canberrans from discrimination.
We know Australians are opposed to laws that would allow religious schools to discriminate against students and teachers on the grounds of their sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status. A Fairfax-Ipsos survey found that 74 per cent of voters oppose laws to allow religious schools to select students and teachers based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status. That is a clear indication that the religious freedom review recommendations are not in line with the views and values the majority of Australian voters hold.
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