Page 2261 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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captures religious teaching or guidance on matters of sexuality and gender identity. It is therefore difficult to create an exemption for a practice that is not covered by the definition originally. This creates the risk of inference by someone interpreting the legislation that it is intended to capture practices adjacent to the specific exemption.
We believe that the inclusion of the note is more helpful in aiding the reader of the bill, to highlight that the bill is to be interpreted in light of the territory’s Human Rights Act, and to clarify that the bill is not intended to interfere with religious teachings more broadly or to prevent religious schools from teaching the tenets of their faith, including teachings on sexuality or gender identity.
I note that there may be some religious groups who feel that this amendment does not go far enough to address their concerns. However, as I have indicated throughout the process, we are not going to water down protections for vulnerable LGBTIQ Canberrans to address concerns that are, in fact, not issues under this legislation.
I commend my amendment to the Assembly.
Amendment agreed to.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (3.46), by leave: I move amendments Nos 2 to 4 circulated in my name together [see schedule 4 at page 2328]. As I have already said, the amendments I move today are about supporting families and teachers to support kids and vulnerable Canberrans. Families need support, not sanctions. Conversations around the dinner table or the professional judgement of licensed teachers in the ACT should not be criminalised. We need to be encouraging kids and vulnerable people to have conversations, not shutting them down.
If the government claims that parents and teachers are not being targeted by this legislation, then they should accept these very reasonable amendments. We very much urge all Labor and Greens members to support this amendment in support of teachers and parents to support kids who are going through challenging times.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (3.47): In discussions on this bill with various religious groups in the ACT, there have been genuine questions asked that touch upon some of the issues that Mr Coe’s amendments seek to address. Many of the people we have spoken with understand the government’s view that the general conversations between a parent or guardian and child or a teacher and student about sexuality and gender identity are not conversion practices.
Most, by looking at the legislation and actually reading it themselves and having that conversation, clearly understand that. Indeed, already in the bill there are several exemptions where a person is offering acceptance, support or understanding, or facilitating a person’s coping skills, social support, identity exploration and development. They are clear. These exemptions are more appropriate and achieve the same objective, I think, that the Canberra Liberals are attempting to achieve through this amendment.
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