A coalition of Queensland’s religious leaders says the Miles Government’s proposed overhaul of workplace sexual harassment laws could force faith-based institutions to teach against their beliefs on sexuality and gender. Source: The Australian.
Planned law changes introduce a ban on creating a work environment that is “hostile on the basis of sex”, which church groups believe could leave them vulnerable to legal action for refusing to appoint women to leadership roles or having separate prayer areas for males and females.
In an open letter to Premier Steven Miles, Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge, Islamic College of Brisbane chief executive Ali Kadri, North Queensland Anglican Bishop Keith Joseph and 13 other signatories sounded the alarm on Labor’s laws which they say would have “significant implications” for the freedoms of speech and religion.
Drafted in response to the landmark federal Respect@-Work report, the Queensland legislation introduces a “positive duty” for employers to prevent sexual harassment and new prohibitions of harassment on the grounds of sex, that a “reasonable person” could anticipate would cause offence, humiliation or intimidation.
Faith leaders have warned that the draft laws lack religious protections, and called for urgent amendments to ensure that the positive duty does not require religious bodies and schools to promote values that are inconsistent with their doctrines.
They have also asked for laws to clarify that teaching their beliefs on sex, sexuality and gender was not a “hostile environment”.
Fowler Charity Law principal Mark Fowler said “the provisions create uncertainty … as to whether the Catholic Church’s or an Islamic mosque’s position on male leadership would open the door for litigation”.
Mr Miles did not respond to a request for comment.
The Liberal National Party has no position on the draft laws, with a spokesman for leader David Crisafulli saying it would “further consider these issues throughout the debate”.
FULL STORY
Queensland religious leaders unite to fight Labor harassment laws (Lydia Lynch, The Australian)
