Women’s Groups And LGBTQIA+ Advocates Unite To Demand Religious School Protections

Women’s organisations, legal experts and LGBTQ+ advocates are urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to end religious exemptions that leave teachers and students exposed to discrimination.

The appeal, announced by Equality Australia on October 27, follows independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender’s introduction of legislation seeking stronger protections in religious schools.

Advocates call for religious school protections

In their letter, the advocates warn that women can face dismissal, demotion or exclusion from employment at religious schools and faith based service providers because of pregnancy, marital status or personal relationships.

They describe women losing careers after pursuing IVF, beginning new relationships or becoming single, including after leaving violence.

The letter also links these concerns to the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, arguing that institutional religious doctrines should not take precedence over freedom from discrimination.

Equality Australia Legal Director Heather Corkhill said in the organisation’s statement:

“Religious freedom should not be a licence to discriminate.”

National Foundation for Australian Women Executive Director Helen Dalley Fisher AM also called for women’s professional abilities to take priority over judgements about their private lives.

She said: “A woman’s livelihood should never depend on her relationship status.”

Spender introduced the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work Amendment (Equality in Treatment in Religious Schools) Bill to the House of Representatives on October 12.

Under existing federal exemptions, religious schools can discriminate on grounds including sexuality, gender identity, pregnancy and marital status.

Spender’s proposal would remove those protections for discriminatory treatment while retaining religious schools’ ability to appoint people of faith, promote people to substantial leadership positions on religious grounds and teach their beliefs.

Equality Australia has urged Labor to support the legislation, pointing to its commitment to address discrimination in religious schools.

The organisation’s statement highlighted the experience of James Elliot-Watson, a former student at a Christian school in Sydney.

Elliot-Watson said he was denied the opportunity to become a prefect after coming out as gay and was referred to counselling intended to change his sexuality.

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown said the consequences of exemptions extend beyond abstract arguments about legislation.

“Behind these legal carve-outs are real people facing real consequences. We’re talking about people’s education, their livelihoods and their futures.”

You can read the full open letter online here.