Premium Content:

Rodney Croome warns 'the devil is in the detail' on PM's pledge

National lobby group, Just.Equal Australia, has written to moderate Liberals warning them the devil will be in the detail of Prime Minister, Scott Morrison’s, proposal to prevent discrimination against LGBTIQ+ students in faith-based schools.

- Advertisement -

The Prime Minister has said he will protect LGBTIQ+ students from discrimination by faith schools, responding to a renewed push from moderate Liberal MPs, some of whom have indicated this is a condition for their support for the Prime Minister’s Religious Discrimination Bill.

Spokesperson for Just.Equal, Rodney Croome, said more information is needed about what the Prime Minister is offering.

“The devil will be in the details of Mr Morrison’s proposal because it could quite easily turn out that the protections he is offering are hollow.”

“For example, amending the Sex Discrimination Act to prohibit sexuality and gender identity discrimination, as some moderate Liberals have proposed, would be pointless because the Religious Discrimination Bill broadens the scope for faith schools to discriminate against LGBTIQ+ students and teachers on the grounds of ‘religious belief’.”

“As the actions of Citipointe Christian College clearly show, there are faith-schools camouflaging discrimination against LGBTIQ+ students by invoking ‘religious beliefs’ rather than discriminating directly on the grounds of sexuality or gender identity.”

“If the Sex Discrimination Act is amended and the Religious Discrimination Bill is passed in its current form, the Government will have given with one hand and taken with the other.”

“In addition, a deal would be unacceptable if students are only protected from expulsion, if there are no changes to those parts of the Religious Discrimination Bill allowing harmful ‘statements of belief’ against LGBTIQ+ young people and if the changes do not protect LGBTIQ+ teachers in faith-based schools.”

“We have written to all moderate Liberals outlining the potential problems with a deal, and asking to brief them.”

The bill is set to be debated when federal parliament return this week. On Sunday Attorney General Michaelia Cash met with Labor’s Mark Dreyfus to provide more detail about the government’s latest proposed alterations to the legislation.

On Friday to parliamentary reports recommended that the bill be passed without significant change.

OIP Staff


You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

 

Latest

Kim Petras returns with ‘I Like Ur Look’

The new track is a mix of hyper pop and rock vibes.

Pentagon says Netflix series ‘Boots’ is part of an ideological agenda

The show has been a huge hit for Netflix but the current US administration doesn't appear to be fans of the show.

WA government releases draft plan for suicide prevention

Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammatt says all Western Australians have a role to play.

On This Gay Day | ‘Holding the Man’ author Tim Conigrave died

His memoir became widely acclaimed as queer literature since its publication in 1995.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Kim Petras returns with ‘I Like Ur Look’

The new track is a mix of hyper pop and rock vibes.

Pentagon says Netflix series ‘Boots’ is part of an ideological agenda

The show has been a huge hit for Netflix but the current US administration doesn't appear to be fans of the show.

WA government releases draft plan for suicide prevention

Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammatt says all Western Australians have a role to play.

On This Gay Day | ‘Holding the Man’ author Tim Conigrave died

His memoir became widely acclaimed as queer literature since its publication in 1995.

High court backs decision to bar Candace Owens from Australia

The US pundit was challenging a ruling from the Australian government that barred her from the country.

Kim Petras returns with ‘I Like Ur Look’

The new track is a mix of hyper pop and rock vibes.

Pentagon says Netflix series ‘Boots’ is part of an ideological agenda

The show has been a huge hit for Netflix but the current US administration doesn't appear to be fans of the show.

WA government releases draft plan for suicide prevention

Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammatt says all Western Australians have a role to play.