Confusion over what the Ruddock Review actually suggests

The Australian newspaper has reported that articles regarding the recommendations of the Ruddock Review in Fairfax Media are not accurate.

The Australian has also gotten hold sections of the confidential report and says the recommendations surrounding how religious based schools can treat LGBTI students actually restrict how schools can discriminate against gay, bisexual and transgender students and teachers.

The report that has been kept under wraps by the government for months was leaked overnight by Fairfax Media, but now rival publication The Australian says the reports have misunderstood the report’s recommendations.

The newspaper says the the section of the review that it has seen actually recommend that no new laws be introduced in the area.

“To the extent that some jurisdictions do not currently allow religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender characteristics, the panel sees no need to introduce such provisions.”

The Australian claims that the report states that very few organisations included the ability to reject gay students in their submissions to the panel.

The newspaper suggests that the review panel actually recommend tightening up how such rejections on the basis of religious doctrine can be applied. The report calls for pregnancy to be removed as a reason for rejecting a student, and requires schools to be upfront about what may lead to a rejection, insisting on published policies.

The report was delivered to the government almost five months ago, but it appears very few members of the government have been given access to read it. This morning a succession of cabinet ministers stated that had not seen the report.

Recently when the senate passed a motion demanding the report be released, Senator Mathias Cormann said it could not be made public because it was currently being considered by cabinet.

Today’s events have indicated that more members of the media may have accessed report than members of the cabinet, and the government has been hit by a barrage of calls for the report to be released.

OIP Staff