New legislation set to be introduced to the South Australian Parliament would ensure religious schools cannot knock back job applications from prospective teachers because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Source: The Advertiser
Greens MLC Robert Simms will in August introduce the legislation, which would remove current exemptions from anti-discrimination laws.
Under existing South Australian law, religious bodies can discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity when hiring teachers or workers at other religious-run services.
Before the 2022 federal election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to overhaul religious protection laws at a federal level but that legislation has not been introduced.
Mr Simms said current state law was facilitating discrimination and must be changed. He said government and opposition MPs should be granted a conscience vote on the issue.
One Nation MLC Sarah Game said she would strongly oppose the legislation.
“If this bill becomes law, schools and religious organisations will no longer have the right to select or terminate staff members on the basis of shared moral and ethical standards and beliefs,” she said.
“So, for example, a Catholic school could effectively be forced to employ a teacher who espouses gender fluidity and other woke principles.”
A Malinauskas Government spokesman said “the government has not yet seen a copy of this bill, and will review it carefully when it is introduced before forming a position”.
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Greens push to remove rights of religious schools (By Kathryn Bermingham, The Advertiser)
