Religious discrimination Bill labelled ‘extremely harmful’

A union says it is “deeply concerned” individuals could be legally targeted with discriminatory messages if Scott Morrison’s religious discrimination Bill passes.

Powerful unions are warning new federal laws to guarantee religious freedom would give a green light to harmful discrimination, ramping up the pressure on Labor to vote against them.

Beyond Blue has also intervened in the debate about Scott Morrison’s religious discrimination Bill, declaring it could worsen mental health problems for LGBTIQ+ Australians by allowing statements of belief that cause “significant psychological distress”.

And top constitutional lawyer George Williams says the Prime Minister’s long-awaited overhaul will only increase confusion between federal and state discrimination laws and leave “basic questions of religious freedom” to the courts.

The government hopes to pass the Bill before next year’s election, having unveiled it last month and referred it to a parliamentary committee.

While Labor leader Anthony Albanese endorsed the goal of shielding people of faith from discrimination, the opposition decided to wait for the inquiry before finalising its position.

In its submission, the Victorian Trades Hall Council ­described the Bill as “disproportionate, unfair and unjustified”.

The government hopes to pass the Bill before next year’s election. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Assistant secretary Wil Stracke warned it left “significant scope for hostile and harmful statements” to be made and would override new state laws designed to limit discrimination.

The Australian Education Union claimed the Bill “threatens the safety and wellbeing” of students and teachers and would allow them to be expelled or sacked by ­religious schools.

Some moderate Liberal MPs said this month they had struck a deal to make changes to protect gay students from discrimination.

But the teachers’ union said the legislation as drafted was “extremely harmful”.

“It is disgraceful that, in 2021, the Morrison government needs to be told this simple truth: no worker and no child should ever lose their livelihood and education ­because of who they are,” the union said in its submission. The union said it was “deeply concerned” teachers and students could be legally targeted with discriminatory messages through social media, phone calls, emails and even public protests.

It also questioned whether chaplains would be allowed to make discriminatory statements at schools.

Beyond Blue chief Georgie Harman said further changes to the Bill were needed to “provide discrimination protections for people of faith without removing existing anti-discrimination protections for others”.

Originally published as Religious discrimination Bill labelled ‘extremely harmful’