Religion discrmination laws have ‘Libs in disarray’

Coalition MPs say the government is in ‘disarray’ over a ­religious discrimination bill promised at the last election, as concern grows it could trigger a revolt.

Liberal senator Amanda Stoker. Picture: Gary Ramage

Coalition MPs say the government is in “disarray” over a ­religious discrimination bill promised at the last election, as concern grows it could trigger a revolt months out from an ­election.

Just days before a vote, the Prime Minister’s pledge to ­remove controversial religious exemptions from the Sex Discrimination Act allowing schools to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation has revived ­divisions between the moderate and conservative factions.

Numerous Coalition sources told The Weekend Australian it was unclear whether Mr Morrison could secure enough government support to pass the religious discrimination laws if Labor ­decided to oppose the legislation.

“Enough people are concerned about the bill to not support it,” a Liberal source said. “It (the party) is in disarray,” another said. “They are desperately trying to negotiate this through.”

Mr Morrison said the changes to the Sex Discrimination Act would occur at the same time as the religious discrimination legislation was passed.

The pledge came just hours after the Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General, Amanda Stoker, said the government should stick to the original plan and legislate its ­religious discrimination bill ­before amending other laws.

Attorney-General Michaela Cash backed the Prime Minister’s plan on Friday, but the pledge to amend the Sex Discrimination Act angered conservatives, who argued the decision was “premature” and undermined more than 12 months of consultation on ­religious protections.

“The RDA is one of the most widely and extensively consulted pieces of legislation ever to come before the parliament,” WA senator Ben Small said.

“I am concerned that the last-minute push to amend the Sex Discrimination Act is being used as a weapon to derail passage of the RDA by those who believe their existing protections are more worthy than the last remaining gap in our anti-discrimination legislation – belief.” Religious groups also raised concerns that their voices were being dismissed to appease moderates in the Liberal Party.

Australian Federation of ­Islamic Councils president Rateb Jneid said “our views and concerns should be accorded respect by our elected leaders”, while the Australian Christian Lobby ­labelled the Prime Minister’s push to change the Sex Discrimination Act a “red herring”.

Moderates, including NSW senator Andrew Bragg and Sydney MP Dave Sharma, were fully supportive of the Sex Discrimination Act being changed at the same time as the passing of the religious discrimination legislation, but both still had held concerns.

Mr Sharma said discrimination against gay teachers needed to be addressed, as well as concerns about “the wide scope of the statement of belief provisions”.

Senator Bragg added his voice to the opposition of the “statement of beliefs” clause, which ­allows people of faith to make statements that could be deemed offensive to certain groups.

Liberal MP Jason Falinski said, while he supported the bill, any part of the proposed legislation that could be used by “bad faith actors” to create intolerance needed to be removed.

The divisions follow numerous groups, including universities, warning that the broad definition of “statements of ­belief” included in the legislation could make current unlawful acts of discrimination “lawful if based on religious belief”.

But conservative WA senator Matt O’Sullivan said there would be “no point” proceeding with the legislation if the statement of ­beliefs was watered down or removed. Senator O’Sullivan said those reserving their support would need to “explain that to the partyroom” given cabinet already approved legislation and it was a pre-election commitment.

It follows two joint parliamentary reports that recommended the bill be passed, with Labor offering its conditional report.