Greens call for end to religious discrimination
The NSW Greens have called for the closing of loopholes in the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act that allow businesses owned by religious groups to discriminate against students, employees and clients if they hold that something about them conflicts with their beliefs.
Currently religious groups may refuse to hire GLBTs or terminate their employment, while GLBTI children can be forced out of a school with no redress.
The law was passed before homosexuality was decriminalised in NSW but has remained on the books ever since.
Greens lead candidate for the Legislative Assembly, David Shoebridge, said the party supported removing the exemptions and replacing them with a bill of rights that enshrined protection from such discrimination, while the NSW Government and the Coalition parties did not.
“Once a religious organisation receives taxpayer money to fund its operations, whether it’s a school, welfare services or accommodation, then it is absolutely unacceptable that they be allowed to discriminate against people on the basis of their sexual identity, their religion or being a single mother,” Shoebridge said.
The Greens state election candidate for Marrickville, Fiona Byrne, echoed the call, singling out the NSW Attorney General for criticism.
“The NSW Attorney Genenal John Hatzistergos should be protecting the vulnerable in society rather than defending an antiquated law allowing students to be expelled due to their sexuality,” said Byrne.
A spokesman for the Attorney General told media the law was necessary “to maintain a sometimes delicate balance between protecting individuals from unlawful discrimination while allowing people to practise their own beliefs”.
The Shadow Attorney General, Greg Smith indicated he believed the law needed changing, but that was not the view of his party.
hi all
Agree with all the above – and as well there needs to be core funding of advocacy and support for all parts of GLBTI in all states, territories and nationally.
Ghassan – I agree.
Greg Smith has chosen his job title over the Civil Rights. It is one thing to say I do not agree, it is another to advocate for change. He is not willing to advocate for Civil Rights.
I simply don’t believe Greg Smith on this issue. He has not supported one equality reform in his time in Parliament and has spoken against reform in each case.
If we are to agree that taxes are a community resource, then we should have equal access to taxes. They are not there to discriminate on race, sexuality, gender, or marital status. Taxes belong to all the community. I get no discount paying taxes for being gay!
When Governments give money to religious groups to run businesses that provide government services, we should not be forced to convert to the beliefs of that religious group in order to access those services. In effect this is an attempt by government to force a religion onto you.
I strongly support the Greens, removing exemptions of religious businesses to discriminate. What people do in their Church or Cult is their business, but when we are either denied services by government, or forced to follow the beliefs of a religious institution, then that is a disgrace.
For those businesses owned by religious groups that do not run government services, then they should be forced to pay tax and have a level playing field with other businesses. Imagine the outrage if an employer sacked a person for being Catholic? There should be no exemption to the Equal Opportunity Act that every other business has to follow. If we build a society where you ability to do your job does matter but the Church you attend does, then it could hardly be a productive society or a fair society. I value and believe in a Fair Go and thankfully the Greens also do.
I agree Jay. Religious schools also get government funding. It’s terrible that public funds are contributing towards this discrimination.
Religious groups that discriminate against minority groups, should be punished by removing there tax-free status.
Religious groups enjoy the benefits of the governments tax-free status, however there is one big problem with that. If your group receives tax-free status your group cannot lobby against government.
All these groups are doing is spreading hate, they don’t want our society to progress. They want to stay stuck in a time warp, and deny any progress. Well thats sad, and I hope Australians will wake up to this fact and not support groups are people that discriminate.