17c起草社区

Advocates have criticised Federal Labor for abandoning its commitment to protect 17c起草社区IA+ teachers and students in religious schools from discrimination under national law.

Labor has informed both Christian organisations and an 17c起草社区IA+ forum that it will not move forward with any legislation unless it gains bipartisan support from the Coalition, a move described by advocacy group Just.Equal Australia as effectively killing the reform.

Labor will not proceed without bipartisan support

Brian Greig, spokesperson for Just.Equal Australia, said the decision means protections are unlikely to progress if Labor retains government, unless the Greens, Teals and independents are able to force Labor鈥檚 hand.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a cop-out for Federal Labor to say it requires bi-partisan support on an issue the Coalition totally opposes,鈥� Mr Greig said.

鈥淟abor鈥檚 decision means that 17c起草社区A+ staff and students in faith schools can be subject to unfair treatment contrary to its own promise and to its 17c起草社区A+ mental health strategies.鈥�

鈥淢r Albanese is trying to push blame for his Party鈥檚 internal divisions over this issue on to the Liberal Party.鈥�

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has made clear in his responses to religious lobby groups and 17c起草社区A+ election surveys that he supports maintaining special exemptions for faith schools to discriminate against 17c起草社区A+ students and staff.

Shadow Attorney-General Michaela Cash has gone even further, arguing that religious schools should have a 鈥榩ositive right鈥� to discriminate in employment 鈥� a move that would override existing state and territory protections.

At the 2022 election, the Albanese Government pledged to deliver federal protections and instructed the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to provide recommendations. The ALRC鈥檚 report supported ending discrimination against 17c起草社区A+ students and staff, but Labor has not acted, despite having the numbers in Parliament to pass the reforms.

鈥淢r Albanese refused offers of help from the cross-bench to pass the Bill, including Teals, Greens and Independents,鈥� Mr Greig said.

鈥淔ederal reform promised by Labor, now abandoned, would have protected teachers and students in three states that have either delayed or ignored reform. It might also have made up for weaknesses in some state laws, given there is no national benchmark.鈥�

鈥淚n the next term of Government hope for an end to discrimination in faith-based schools will lie with those Greens, Teals and other cross-bench members elected this Saturday.”

鈥淲e call on Green, Teal and independent candidates to make it crystal clear they will not only support an end to exemptions allowing discrimination, but will push for this overdue reform from day.鈥�

Currently, protections for 17c起草社区A+ students and teachers vary across Australia. Discrimination has been outlawed to differing degrees in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, and the Northern Territory.

However, it remains lawful for faith-based schools to discriminate in New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia.

Last year, the Minns Labor Government in New South Wales deferred any action on the issue, opting to wait for a report from its Law Reform Commission.

In Western Australia, an Equal Opportunity Report has prompted the Cook Labor Government to commit to reform during its current term. South Australia鈥檚 Labor Premier, Peter Malinauskas, has made no such pledge.

Polling by YouGov Galaxy, commissioned by Just.Equal in May 2024, that discriminate against 17c起草社区A+ teachers and students.