Equality Tasmania has released two new fact sheets about the adverse impact of the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill on Tasmania with the aim of encouraging Tasmanians to make their views known to the Federal Government.

Advocates say Tasmania is singled-out for special ill-treatment under the Religious Discrimination Bill because it has stronger discrimination protections than the other states.

In the new fact sheets the benefits of Tasmania’s existing discrimination law are explained, while the Federal Government’s stated rationale for overriding the Tasmanian law is criticised.

Equality Tasmania spokesperson Andrew Badcock said it was important Tasmanians acted now to prevent the laws from being changed.

“We are circulating these fact sheets to mobilise Tasmanians to defend our gold-standard Anti-Discrimination Act from attack.”

“Tasmania has gone from having the worst laws on LGBTIQ human rights to having the best, and we will not allow our progress to be rolled back.”

“We want all Tasmanians who will be adversely impacted by this override, including everyone who falls foul of traditional religious dogma, to take action.” Badcock said.

Copies of the fact sheets can be downloaded from Equality Tasmania.

Submissions to the federal government close on October 2nd and should be sent to the Religious Discrimination Bill consultation, C/o FoRConsultation@ag.gov.au

Source: Media Release