Christian Schools Australia say religious protections should be retained

An national fellowship of Christian Schools are asking for no changes to be made to legal exemptions that allow faith-based schools to discriminate based on sexuality, following the removal of a gay teacher from a Perth college.

The West Australian have reported that Christian Schools Australia have written to Attorney General John Quigley and Education Minister Sue Ellery, asking for more information about prospective changes to the laws.

Public discourse on the issue has intensified this week, following a report from OUTinPerth on a Perth man losing approval as a relief teacher from South Coast Baptist College after it became known he was gay.

Christian Schools Australia’s executive officer Mark Spencer said it is a difficult issue, but it is inevitible that those in same-sex relationships would face challenges at faith-based schools.

“There are no winners when we have to separate from a staff member in these situations,” Spencer told The West.

“It’s not something we want to do – it’s something we just need to do to be able to provide the sort of education we want to provide.”

“Kids are great at picking up hypocrisy. They’ll know if a teacher is saying one thing and not living up to what they’re saying, and we want to avoid that kind of incongruity.”

Premier Mark McGowan says he doesn’t agree with the school’s decision to no longer offer employment to the teacher, and has committed his government to looking in to the legal loophole.

OIP Staff