Independent MP Allegra Spender has announced she will introduce a bill to Parliament next week that would provide protections for students and teachers against discrimination on the basis of sexuality, gender or marital status at religious schools.
“Labor has promised to do this for years, but never delivered, despite broad consensus in the community.
“Most Australians agree that a school should be a place where students and teachers alike are safe to be themselves, especially LGBTQIA+ children at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives,” the Member for Wentworth said in a social media post.
Dr Spender highlighted the case of Dr Karen Pack, who, as a senior teacher at Morling College, was dismissed from her position in 2020 after marrying her same-sex partner.
The MP said she supported religious-based organisations having exemptions that allow them to hire people whose faith aligns with that of the institution. However, she opposed their ability to dismiss employees on the basis of marital status or retain the right to expel students because of their sexuality.
The provisions in the Sex Discrimination Act that permit religious schools to discriminate against teachers and students on the basis of sexuality came to national attention during the Ruddock Review, which was commissioned by former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull as part of negotiations surrounding marriage equality in Australia.
By the time the review was made public, Scott Morrison had replaced Turnbull as prime minister. Morrison subsequently suggested the legislative gap could be addressed within a fortnight.
However, attempts to introduce a Religious Discrimination Bill created significant divisions within the Coalition and saw MPs cross the floor to vote against the government’s legislation, ultimately leading to the proposal being abandoned. During Labor’s first term, renewed attempts to address the issue were also abandoned.
