MP Allegra Spender has called on the Albanese Government to deliver an election promise it has put on ice by reviving the debate over religious freedoms, setting up fresh battle lines between faith leaders and equality advocates. Source: The Australian.
The Community Strong MP yesterday introduced a private member’s bill to protect students and teachers at religious schools from being sacked or expelled on the grounds of their sexuality, gender identity or marital status.
Protections would also capture associates, such as the child of a same-sex couple, while pulling back exemptions for religious teachings and triggering sweeping changes to employment contracts under the Fair Work Act.
Labor and the Coalition have signalled they will not support the reforms and the government has made it clear it will not revisit the issue without bipartisan backing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shelved his 2022 election promise to tackle religious discrimination and protections for the LGBTQ+ community two years ago over concerns it would stoke a “culture war”.
A number of religious organisations have also flagged they will not support reforms that seek to tighten rules for their schools and teachings unless a separate religious freedoms bill is introduced.
Ms Spender’s bill is unlikely to pass but Joanna Howe, a prominent anti-abortion activist, launched a petition to fight against the reforms as they would signal the “beginning of the end of Christian schools in this country”.
The petition, which has nearly hit its target of 30,000 signatures, calls on the Albanese Government to oppose the bill to ensure schools can “uphold their religious beliefs in their teaching, staffing and school culture”.
Although Ms Spender said her bill would still allow schools to hire based on faith, this would only apply if it does amount to discrimination under the SDA.
Her reforms would prevent a staff member or child from being discriminated against once they are part of the school community.
Equality Australia urged Labor to back the “long-overdue protections”.
Australian Christian Lobby chief executive Michelle Pearse said the bill drew from the Australian Law Reform Commission model that leaders rejected in 2024.
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Teal MP Allegra Spender revives religious discrimination debate (By Elizabeth Pike, The Australian)
