NT Anti-Discrimination Bill delayed over dispute about work-life balance as lobby groups clash
The NT anti-discrimination Bill has been delayed as lobbyist demands threaten Territory teachers’ work-life balance in the midst of a teacher shortage. Read the details.
A dispute over work-life balance and requirements “beyond the realms of what Territorians expect” is at the heart of the Country Liberal Party’s decision to delay much-anticipated amendments to the Territory’s Anti-Discrimination Bill.
The spokesman said the government would continue its discussions with stakeholders on the proposed amendments.
One of the most vocal stakeholders is the Australian Christian Lobby which said the bill did not go far enough and welcomed the delay.
ACL NT director Nicholas Lay said the main provision his group was seeking was the ability for Christian schools (this excludes Catholic schools) to enforce church attendance on staff and choose students based on their faith.
“When Christian schools set up they do so to provide an education system that is based on a Christian worldview — to do that you need to be able to employ teachers with that worldview,” he said.
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby voiced her frustration with these proposals on the floor of parliament on Wednesday, describing this as “far beyond the realm of what Territorians expect”.
The Independent Education Union (IEU) hit back at the suggestion teachers would be expected to blend their work and private lives under legislation.
“Our union calls on the NT government to reject the call by some non-government school employers to legally enshrine the right to direct employees’ conduct outside of work hours,” IEU-QNT branch secretary Terry Burke said.
“These matters belong in a code of conduct, which contemporary workplaces would have.
“Such provisions have no place in legislation.”
There is currently a national teacher shortage, with the deficit particularly pressing in the Territory.
Mr Burke said the proposed changes put up “barriers to recruitment” and were nonsensical given the shortage.
“Any reinstatement of religious discrimination exemptions in the NT is unnecessary, divisive and harmful,” Mr Burke said.
“Doing so during a national teacher shortage fundamentally lacks common sense, putting barriers to recruitment.
A review of the NT Christian Schools website revealed 31 vacancies as of September 4 — a number which could grow if the potential employee pool was reduced.
Peak queer rights group Equality Australia said they feared the legislation was not just about faith, but would target queer students.
They presented a petition to parliament on Thursday, supported by MLAs Justine Davis and Chansey Paech.
“Teachers shouldn’t lose their jobs because of who they go home to at the end of the working day and students shouldn't be expelled for simply being themselves,” engagement director Emily Mulligan said.
