No retreat on ­religious discrimination bill: MPs tell Scott Morrison

A growing rump of Liberal MPs tell Scott Morrison to avoid further ‘watering down’ of the ­religious discrimination bill.

Tony Pasin is among the Liberal MPs who say the government has a ‘mandate’ to legislate protections for faith-based groups and individuals. Picture: AAP

A growing rump of conservative Liberal MPs has urged Scott Morrison to avoid further “watering down” of the government’s ­religious discrimination bill and not buckle under pressure from moderate colleagues.

Ahead of the Prime Minister personally tabling the legislation in the lower house on Thursday, a group of conservative Liberals told The Australian that further concessions would break faith with voters who backed the ­Coalition at the last election.

Amid resistance from moderates to endorse the religious discrimination bill, Liberal MPs and senators Tony Pasin, Matt O’Sullivan, Ben Small and Phil Thompson said the government had a “mandate” to legislate protections for faith-based groups and individuals.

After the government removed the “Folau clause” and the ability of health professionals to refuse service provision on conscience grounds, Labor was expected to join the Coalition in passing the bill in the lower house and referring it to a Senate inquiry. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will discuss Labor’s position with caucus members next week.

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash. Picture: Martin Ollman

The Australian understands the Senate committee tasked with examining the legislation will be asked to report back by February, giving the government time to push it through the parliament ­before next year’s election.

Mr Thompson said Attorney-General Michaelia Cash had ­“extensively consulted with MPs” and removed contentious items in the bill to win support.

“Watering things down further would break faith with many of those who voted for us at the last election. All government members and senators were well aware that we were taking the religious discrimination bill to the last election,” Mr Thompson said.

Senator O’Sullivan said the bill did not “encroach upon other rights protected by law” and would “not authorise hate speech, violence or discrimination against anyone”.

“It is disingenuous and irresponsible for some colleagues to suggest this would empower harm to anyone. We are, after all, a party that believes in tolerance, freedom of thought, speech, worship and association. Perhaps they should review our party’s constitution,” Senator O’Sullivan said.

Mr Pasin also took a shot at moderate Liberal MPs, accusing them of seeking to undermine the progress of the bill. The Barker MP said the Coalition would face a backlash from religious groups and lose faith with voters if it ­watered down the bill and broke its 2019 election promise.

Senator Small said: “The woke left are now squealing because identity politics has strayed from their causes into those that really matter to quiet Australians”.

“We promised them a shield, and we must deliver them that shield – not a watered-down wet blanket to burn as the flames draw close in the unceasing attempt by the left to cancel religious values in the homes and businesses of Australia.”

After Senator Cash on Tuesday said the government would ­ensure that gay students and teachers would not be discriminated against, Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown said the bill failed to “protect everyone in the Australian community equally and must be rejected”.

“Current federal law specifically allows discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teachers and students in religious schools. Outdated carve-outs to the sex discrimination act mean that teachers, staff and students can be fired, expelled or otherwise ­treated unfairly by religious institutions because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Mr Brown said.

“Nothing in this religious discrimination bill acts to change this or to fulfil the federal government’s 2018 commitment to protect LGBT students.”