Two parents have explained why they oppose changes to discrimination laws for religious schools

Two parents have spoken out against the federal government’s proposed changes to discrimination laws, saying it’s an attack on their rights to choose what’s best for their children.

Rally happening at Tyndale Christian School over proposed discrimination law changes

Two parents have spoken out against proposed changes to discrimination laws for religious schools, saying it would be an attack on their rights as parents to choose how to raise their children.

It comes as hundreds of parents attended a rally at Tyndale Christian School on Wednesday night, opposing the Australian Law Reform Commission’s proposed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act.

Hundreds of people rallied at Tyndale Christian School in Salisbury East Wednesday night. Picture: Supplied

The changes would make it increasingly difficult for religious schools to reject an applicant who doesn’t match their faith or values.

Tegan Mitchell – who attended Wednesday’s rally – said her choice to send her son to a Christian school was not a crusade to change others or their life choices.

“An informed adult living or making decisions that they feel are right, that’s their business,” Ms Mitchell said.

“I’m not trying to stop them in any way.

“But while my child is still developing, I don’t want a lot of dogma (core assumptions) pushed onto him that are things that I would disagree with.

“I’m happy for him to grow in a certain way and make up his own mind about what he wants to do with his life.”

Ms Mitchell said she consciously chose to send her 13-year-old son to Tyndale Christian School, to nurture a set of values that resonated with her own.

But for Ms Mitchell, changes to the current discrimination laws would take away her choice to do what she feels is in the best interests of her child.

“If I wanted my child exposed to all those secular ideas, I could send him to a state school tomorrow, and that opportunity is there for us to do that at any time,” she said.

“But with freedom of association, if we have a school specifically that aligns with our values, then I have that as an option.

“If schools are forced to take on teachers from outside, then they wouldn’t be what they are anymore.

Erin – who chose not to use her surname – also attended Wednesday’s rally.

The choice to send her two girls to a Christian school was less about limiting exposure to secular ideas and more about equipping them with a Christian foundation.

“We wanted the girls to be in an environment where it’s an open enrolment school, so there’s people from all backgrounds, all nationalities, that are attending the school,” she said.

“We still feel it’s important that they interact with the world that they’re going to live in potentially for the next 80 years.

“But we also feel it’s important that it is underpinned by the faith that is represented at home.

“It’s absolutely not a reflection on people’s personal beliefs.”