Media release – Just.Equal, 13 August 2024

FED GOVT WILL LOSE VOTES IF LGBTQA+ FAITH-SCHOOL PROMISE NOT KEPT

“The Government’s reticence is not about freedom for faith, it’s about pandering to prejudice.” – Rodney Croome

Just.Equal Australia has warned the Albanese Government it will lose votes if it fails to fulfill its election promise to protect LGBTQA+ teachers and students in faith-based schools from discrimination.

The warning comes in the wake of reports that the Federal Government has shelved the reform.

Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“YouGov polling commissioned by Just.Equal shows Australians, especially Labor voters, want LGBTQA+ students and teachers in religious schools protected.”

“Our research in the LGBTQA+ community has shown that a substantial number of LGBTQA+ people who voted Labor in 2019 voted Green in 2022 because of Labor’s poor record on LGBTQA+ equality.”

“Together this research shows Labor will lose votes if it fails to fulfill its promise of protecting LGBTQA+ students and teachers from discrimination.”

Mr Albanese has suggested a “divisive debate about people’s faith” could impair “social cohesion”.

“It would be shameful to see social cohesion for LGBTQA+ people sacrificed to the current fear campaign from some religious leaders about non-existent threats to religious freedom.”

“The Government’s reticence is not about freedom for faith, it’s about pandering to prejudice.”

Mr Croome said that several states and territories already prohibit discrimination against LGBTQA+ people by faith-based schools and services, including Tasmania, Victoria, the ACT, the Northern Territory and, in part, Queensland.

“Several states and territories have shown the sky does not fall in when faith-based schools and services are prohibited from discriminating against LGBTQA+ people.”

“There is no evidence religious schools have suffered in any way from strong state and territory anti-discrimination laws, so there is no excuse for the Federal Government to balk at reform.”

Mr Croome added that states which have been lagging behind, like Western Australia, also have no more excuses.

The WA Government has consistently said it won’t act until it sees what legislation the Federal Government intends to pass.

“Should the Feds fail, WA has no more excuses.”

“Indeed, it has a greater responsibility than ever to act.”