Media release – Christian Schools Australia; Australian Association of Christian Schools; Associated Christian Schools
Campaign Launch: A “positive right” for Faith-Based Schools
More than 2,200 signed postcards will be delivered to the Prime Minister in conjunction with the launch of a new campaign for a “positive right” for faith-based schools.
This comes off the back of the ‘Faith In Our Future’ townhalls organised in response to the controversial recommendations released by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC). The postcards, each bearing a signature and a message reminding the Prime Minister of his commitment that “Faith-based schooling will not go backwards” will be delivered to the Prime Minister on Wednesday morning
The sold-out town hall events in Brisbane, Sydney, Launceston, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide have united supporters of Christian schools across Australia to share their experiences of the value of faith and communicate their concerns to Federal political representatives. A clear message coming from the faith community that faith-based schools must have a “positive right” to continue to operate in accordance with their beliefs.
Faith groups have worked hard to prepare detailed legislative proposals for the Albanese Government that capture this “positive right” in a way that is consistent with international law, allows the Government to meet its election commitments, and protects communities of faith.
Even Justice Rothman, who led the ALRC review, recognised that something significant was missing. He has since said that schools need a “positive right”’ to operate schools based on their ethos as outlined above.
Media release – Just.Equal Australia, 24 June 2024
‘POSITIVE RIGHT’ FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS MAY SEE EXISTING STATE PROTECTIONS OVERTURNED
Just.Equal Australia says a “positive right” allowing faith-based schools to discriminate will allow existing state and territory laws protecting LGBTQA+ staff and students from discrimination to be overridden.
Today, saw the launch at Parliament House of a new campaign aimed at the federal government seeking a “positive right” for faith-based schools “to operate in accordance with their beliefs’.
Just.Equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome said,
“A ‘positive right’ would allow existing state and territory protections for LGBTQA+ staff and students to be successfully challenged in the High Court.”
“States and territories where existing legal protections could be stripped away include Tasmania, the ACT, Victoria, the Northern Territory and Queensland.”
“In states with no protections, like NSW and WA, we have seen how teachers have been sacked because they are LGBTQA+, or students expelled because they have gay parents.”
“This abominable mistreatment would spread to states where protections have been in place for years, in Tasmania’s case for over a quarter of a century.”
Mr Croome said a positive right will also allow discrimination against unmarried partners, single parents and people in minority faiths.
Just.Equal Australia recently released a YouGov opinion poll which showed that a majority of Australians believe LGBTQA+ staff in faith-based schools should be protected from discrimination and schools that discriminate should lose taxpayer funding.
