Advocates oppose weakening of anti-bias protections for students in religious schools

Tasmanian gay community advocates are relieved the Tasmanian Upper House has narrowly voted down an exemption to the state Anti-Discrimination Act allowing faith-based schools to discriminate on the grounds of religion but are unhappy it has accepted a narrower exemption that allows such schools to discriminate on the grounds of religion in relation to enrolment.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“Our strong Anti-Discrimination Act has helped create more inclusive school communities by prohibiting all discrimination in all schools.”

“Any weakening of the Act will foster discrimination, prejudice and bullying.”

“I am particularly concerned that allowing discrimination on the grounds of religion will be used as cover by some schools to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation.”

“Life is already difficult enough for young gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex Tasmanians without their protections being removed by legislators who have little real understanding of the damage discrimination causes.”

The Upper House was split seven votes to seven over a Liberal Party proposal to allow faith-based schools to discriminate on the grounds of religion. That amendment failed.

The Upper House then accepted a narrower exemption only allowing faith-based schools to discriminate on the grounds of religion if they are over-subscribed and only for the period of that over-subscription.

Tasmanian faith-based schools are currently prohibited from discriminating on the grounds of religion, sexual orientation, relationship status and other grounds.

Earlier today the Upper House vetoed a government amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Act which would have extended an existing provision prohibiting offense and humiliation on the grounds of gender to include other grounds including sexual orientation.

However it did vote to include transgender and intersex people in the existing provision, a decision Mr Croome said “makes no sense whatsoever”.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome