Tasmanian groups to front Religious Discrimination Bill public hearing

New laws threaten to weaken Tasmania’s anti-discrimination policies and open the doors to bigotry, a parliamentary inquiry will hear on Friday.

NEW laws threaten to weaken Tasmania’s anti-discrimination policies and open the doors to bigotry, a parliamentary inquiry will hear on Friday.

Six Tasmanian groups will argue their case to a public hearing in Canberra, which is discussing the federal government’s proposed Religious Discrimination Bill.

The Bill has the support of Hobart’s Catholic Archbishop Julian Porteous, who says it will protect religious freedom and uphold the right to free speech.

However, Equality Tasmania’s Rodney Croome said the proposed federal laws would override Tasmania’s “gold-standard” protections and put the LGBTQ community at risk.

In particular, Mr Croome said it would put a “target on the heads” of gay and transgender teachers at religious schools who could be sacked or shamed for their sexuality.

Mr Croome said he personally knows several such teachers who currently work at faith-based schools who would be imperilled by this law change.

Rodney Croome, from Equality Tasmania, says the new Religious Discrimination Bill will weaken Tasmania's anti-discrimination laws and open the doors to bigotry. Picture: Kenji Sato

“Suddenly it’ll be open season for them to be attacked by every bigot, everyone with a prejudice, because the legal protection they’ve had for 23 years has disappeared,” he said.

“These hard working teachers and service providers are going to have their job security taken away for no obvious reason.”

Additionally, Mr Croome said the Bill would allow discrimination against unmarried couples, women who use IVF, and people of minority religions and races.

Rodney Croome, from Equality Tasmania, says the new Religious Discrimination Bill will weaken Tasmania's anti-discrimination laws and open the doors to bigotry. Picture: Kenji Sato

“Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act sets a gold standard for the nation, and if the Act is wound back it will make Tasmania a less tolerant and crueller place to live,” Mr Croome said.

“I would urge every Tasmanian who values a more tolerant society to stand up against this Bill.”

However Archbishop Porteous said there was no reason why religious belief shouldn’t be afforded the same protections as sex, race, age, and other categories.

He said the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act allows political parties to hire staff on the basis of their political values, and that religious groups should be given the same right.

He said the Liberal party would not be expected to employ an avowed Marxist, nor should religious groups be expected to hire those who do not follow their belief system.

Archbishop Julian Porteous is pleased churches are set to reopen from the 18th of May for 10 parishioners at a time. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Archbishop Porteous said religious groups needed protecting from “militant social movements seeking to silence those of religious faith”.

“I have seen and experienced first-hand the chilling effect of laws like the Tasmanian Anti-discrimination Act which allow complaints because a person feels offended,” he said.

“Many Australians do not want even the slightest possibility of being hauled before a tribunal of this nature by an activist and so no longer feel comfortable in respectfully expressing their religious beliefs.

“The proposed Federal Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 will finally address this situation.”

The six groups speaking in opposition to the bill on Friday are Equality Tasmania, Women’s Health Tasmania, the Independent Education Union, Unions Tasmania, Disability Voices Tasmania, and the Multicultural Council of Tasmania.

The Multicultural Council’s chair Datta Mahambrey said he was proud of Tasmania for leading the way with such strong anti-discrimination laws, and was keen to see them upheld.

Mr Mahambrey said he, and a variety of different religious leaders within the multicultural council, had written in united opposition to the Religious Discrimination Bill.

“No religion teaches discrimination, and it is a universal truth that we must protect our vulnerable and give equal rights to all,” Mr Mahambrey said.

“We are very happy with the position taken by the Tasmanian Government and we are proud of the anti-discrimination act which is currently in existence.”

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