Matt Guy Pledges To Bring Back Law To Allow Religious Schools To Discriminate Against LGBT Staff
Image: Victorian Liberal leader Matt Guy. Image: Facebook
Ahead of the state elections in November, Victorian Liberal Leader Matt Guy has pledged that if elected the party will bring back a controversial law that allows religious schools in the state to discriminate against LGBTQI teachers.
The commitment was reportedly given when the leader of the opposition visited the Islamic Council of Victoria on October 17, 2022. Following the visit, ICV issued a press release saying that Guy had “committed to amend the Equal Opportunity Act (EOA) ‘to allow for the right of a faith-based organisation to employ a person that aligns with the religious organisation’s values'”.
ICV claimed that the changes that Guy had promised would “protect the ability of Islamic schools and other faith-based schools to uphold their religious ethos.”
Star Observer has reached out to Guy for a comment and will update this story when he responds.
Victoria Had Banned Religious Schools From Discrimination Against LGBTQI Teachers
The new law, which came into force in June 2022, removed exceptions under the state’s anti-discrimination laws and prohibited religious organisations and faith-based schools from sacking or refusing to hire staff on account of their sexuality, gender identity or marital status.
The schools could take into account the religious beliefs of a staff member only for roles such as religious studies teacher or to recruit priests, ministers, religious leaders or their members.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes had said the changes to the law were important to ensure that “no one should have to hide who they love to do the job they love”. The Victorian Liberals had voted against the law in both houses of Parliament.
End Use Of Discrimination As An Electoral Strategy
Guy’s commitment to trash the law, invited criticism from organisations and other candidates.
Melissa Lowe, independent candidate for Hawthorn, said it was “time to end use of discrimination and division as an electoral strategy”.
“As the former Manager of Student Equity at Swinburne University, I’ve seen firsthand the economic, social and health consequences of discrimination,” Lowe said in a statement.
“Discrimination damages mental health and denies people the economic and social opportunities to fulfill their full potential. It forces good people to live in hiding – simply due to who they are, or who they love,” said Lowe.
Lowe called on the Liberal candidate for Hawthorn John Pesutto “to declare his opposition to Matthew Guy’s plan to reintroduce discrimination in Victoria based on gender or sexuality.”
In July, Victorian Liberals had endorsed controversial anti-trans councillor Moira Deeming to replace Bernie Finn for the Upper House Western Metropolitan Region seat in Parliament. A month later, Liberals voted to select Renee Heath for the safe upper house Eastern Victorian region seat. Renee has links to a controversial church – her father Brian Heath is a senior pastor at the City Builders Church, which has in the past been accused of reportedly encouraging its members to take part in a now-closed gay conversion therapy program run by Living Waters.
Hi. In fact, Federal law in Australia DOES allow sacking of LGBTIQ staff in religious schools, so if it came down to a High Court challenge, it is unlikely Vic law would prevail. If State/Territory and Federal law conflict, Federal law wins. As it stands, there are NO protections for LGBTIQ staff in Australian religious faith based educational institutions. Just ask any LGBTIQ staff member who has been sacked. For what it’s worth, they don’t need to sack. There are other ways that can and are being employed to push dedicated, passionate and jolly fantastic staff and teachers out of their schools etc. It is being used.
Well, good luck with that, Guy!
Just when are you going to realise that the world has moved on?
Religion, particularly your variety is dying. People have realised that the three “Western” or Occidental religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam were all created by men in order to control everyone. They regard Women as Second Class. two of them still segregate women from men during religious services.
“ It forces good people to live in hiding – simply due to who they are, or who they love,” said Lowe.”
Or more accurately: “it forces good people to live in hiding – simply due to so called ‘christians’ pedalling hate and discrimination against us for who we are’. The hypocrisy could not be more acute.
How can this political party possibly call itself ‘liberal’?
These reports make it clear it is anything but ‘liberal’.
It should change its name to The Bigotry Party.
That – at least – would be honest, if not literal.