Government’s religious freedom review could give schools the right to ‘reject’ gay teachers and kids

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has addressed reports that gay students and teachers could be rejected by religious schools, after changes to anti-discrimination laws were recommended by a review.

GAY students and teachers could be rejected by religious schools under changes to anti-discrimination laws being recommended by a review into religious freedom.

According to Fairfax Media, the report calls for the federal Sex Discrimination Act to be altered to allow religious schools to discriminate against students on their sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status.

The review, chaired by former attorney-general Philip Ruddock, was ordered after last year’s same-sex marriage victory to placate conservative MPs who worried the change would reduce people’s ability to practise their religion freely.

It is yet to be officially released.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison claimed the recommendation was an “existing law” when asked during a press conference this morning.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison discussing the review into religious freedom at a press conference today. Picture: Fiona Killman

“There’s been a bit of confusion about this,” Mr Morrison said. “We have a report that’s been provided to the government. It’s a report to government, not from government.

“It’s a report that the government will be considering and developing a balanced response to, and we will do that in our orderly process, taking it through Cabinet.

“I want to make it clear that what was reported today is existing law.”

When asked by a reporter if he was comfortable with the idea of schools expelling students because of their sexual orientation, Mr Morrison replied: “It is existing law”.

Gay teachers and students are under threat from a proposed law change. Picture: AP

The contents of the report will not appease conservatives and religious leaders, and will set off concern within the LGBTQI community about the treatment of gay students and teachers.

“There is a wide variety of religious schools in Australia and … to some school communities, cultivating an environment and ethos which conforms to their religious beliefs is of paramount importance,” Fairfax Media quoted the report as saying.

“To the extent that this can be done in the context of appropriate safeguards for the rights and mental health of the child, the panel accepts their right to select, or preference, students who uphold the religious convictions of that school community.”

Any change would reportedly be in regard to new school enrolments.

There was also a suggestion that religious-based schools should have discretion to discriminate in the hiring of teachers on the basis of religious belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status.

Students at religious schools (not pictured) could be turned away depending on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Picture: The Australian

The report was submitted to then-PM Malcolm Turnbull back in May and reportedly received more than 15,000 submissions.

Labor Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek said her party was fundamentally opposed to increasing discrimination.

“As a human being and as a mother, the idea that adults would be discriminating against or rejecting children seems to me pretty awful,” Ms Plibersek told Sky News.

Australian Greens Spokesperson for Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, said the review was “absolutely outrageous”.

“Schools that discriminate against LGBTIQ+ students and teachers don’t deserve a cent of public money,” Senator Faruqi said.

“It is absolutely outrageous that we should change the law to allow religious schools across the country the right to discriminate against LGBTIQ+ children and teachers.

“We should be removing exemptions for religious schools from anti-discrimination laws, not expanding them.

“No school should have any right to discriminate against anyone, including the LGBTIQ+ community, let alone with public money.

“All schools should be places of learning, safety and acceptance. No student or teacher should be made to feel lesser because of religious bigotry.”

Alex Greenwich, the NSW Independent MP who co-chaired the national campaign in support of same-sex marriage, is demanding Prime Minister Scott Morrison rule out the recommendation.

“The recommendation to increase discrimination in schools against the gay teachers and students is offensive to parents, teachers and school communities,” Mr Greenwich said.

“The government should be focusing on reducing, not increasing bullying in schools.”

Originally published as Government’s religious freedom review could give schools the right to ‘reject’ gay teachers and kids