Equality advocates are frustrated that laws preventing discrimination in faith-based schools have stalled in Parliament despite cross-party support for the reform.

Just.equal spokesperson Rodney Croome said politicians should have more respect for the lives of LGBTI students and teachers.

“The rights of LGBTI students and teachers in faith-based schools should not be used as a political football.”

“Australians were recently appalled to learn that publicly funded faith-based schools have special exemptions from the law allowing them to expel LGBTI students and sack LGBTI teachers, and they want this to stop immediately.”

“Federal politicians should stop squabbling and look to Tasmania where LGBTI students and teachers in faith-based schools have been protected from discrimination for twenty years, without the sky falling in.” Croome said.

On Monday the government teamed up with the Centre Alliance to delay any further debate on the bill put forward by the Labor party. It is unlikely it will be discussed again until later in 2019. Given an election is required at the beginning of the year, the issue may not be dealt with until the second half of the year.

The bill before parliament only dealt with protections for students studying in religious based schools. Just Equal have called for adequate protections to also be given to teachers.

OIP Staff