Religious schools can discriminate
ROBERT BURTON-BRADLEY
The NSW Coalition government and Labor opposition will continue to support discrimination against LGBTI people by religious organisations, despite renewed calls from the Greens to end the practice.
Heffron by-election Greens candidate Dr Mehreen Faruqi has launched an attack on loopholes in the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act that allow religious organisations to fire or refuse employment to people based on sexual preference and for religious schools to expel students for being gay.
Faruqi said it was disturbing schools receiving public funding were legally allowed to enforce homophobic policies.
“It’s unacceptable for religious organisations that receive public funding to be able to discriminate on the basis of sexual identity, religion or individual circumstance,” Faruqi said.
“Under these exemptions, schools are allowed to expel students for their identity and sexuality, or to force teachers to resign under similar circumstances. And the state pays for them to do so.
“We should expect more from a modern, democratic country like ours.”
A spokesperson for NSW Attorney General Greg Smith told the Star Observer the government would not be changing its position.
“The NSW Government supports the current exemptions,” the spokesperson said in a one-line response.
NSW Labor Opposition Leader John Robertson declined to comment.
