Gay activists on watch after review

THERE must be no changes to anti-discrimination laws to allow schools to lock out gay students or teachers, the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group says.

A long-awaited federal review into religious freedoms by former Liberal minister Phillip Ruddock has said the right of schools to turn away gay students and teachers should be enshrined in the Sex Discrimination Act.

Some states already allow schools to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status — Tasmania does not.

But Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said yesterday discrimination had no place in schools.

“Any school that receives public money should abide by the same rules as the rest of society, including the same rules about fair treatment and dis- crimination,” he said.

“For 20 years Tasmanian law has prevented discrimination by religious schools against LGBTI students and teachers, and the sky hasn’t fallen in.”

“Tasmanian religious schools and the broader community are safer and more inclusive thanks to our strong discrimination laws.”

“Anti-discrimination laws on the mainland should come up to the standards set in Tasmania, instead of being watered down as the Ruddock panel has proposed.”

Mr Croome said any change to federal laws to allow greater discrimination would be met with a legal challenge.

Greens Senator Nick McKim said the proposal took direct aim at Tasmania’s strong anti-discrimination laws.

“Our state has the strongest anti-discrimination laws in the country. We have the most at stake and the most to lose,” he said.

“[Prime Minister Scott] Morrison has just handed billions of dollars in public funding to religious schools, and now he wants to allow them to expel gay students or children of gay parents.”

Mr Morrison played down the proposal, saying such exemptions to anti-discrimination laws already exist.

“We’re not proposing to change that law to take away that existing arrangement,” he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he can’t believe the Prime Minister hasn’t ruled out the “silly” idea completely.

“The fact is every child is entitled to human dignity. We shouldn’t even be having this debate,” Mr Shorten said, demanding the Government release the full report.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Labor’s concerns about discrimination against children were jumping the gun, insisting the Government would “get the balance right” and leave existing laws untouched.