Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ReligiousDiscriminationBill
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For those celebrating the protection of LGBT students in religious schools under the Sex Discrimination Act, I have some news:
Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple.
Discrimination against LGBT kids could continue, under the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill itself. #auspol 1/
Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple.
Discrimination against LGBT kids could continue, under the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill itself. #auspol 1/
That's because the RDB allows religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of religious belief, throughout their education.
This could allow discrimination against LGBT kids 'under the guise of religious views', rather than on sexuality or gender ID itself. 2/
This could allow discrimination against LGBT kids 'under the guise of religious views', rather than on sexuality or gender ID itself. 2/
For a detailed explanation, see this helpful thread from the expert on these issues @LiamElphick_ 3/
š”Past 11pm, still debating the Religious Discrimination Bill, ALP MPs trying to explain why they have decided to support the Coalitionās bad legislation, that will still be bad even if amended. Protecting some to lawfully discriminate against others!š¤®#voteindependent #auspol
Amendments only try to protect students & teachers. What about an unwed mother nurse or director of a faith affiliated nursing home for example, whose employment can then be lawfully terminated under pry 2 because itās āagainst the ethos & teachingsāof a religion?
As noted by the Law Council, the definition of āreligious bodyā should be limited to a body āestablished for religious purposesā. The definition is so broad, it provides the right to discriminate on the basis of religious ethos & teachings for a very broad range of organisations.
Based on what we know about Labor's proposed amendments to the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill, we can say the following:
-they make improvements in a few important areas
BUT
-don't redeem what remains, overall, a deeply flawed Bill. #auspol 1/
-they make improvements in a few important areas
BUT
-don't redeem what remains, overall, a deeply flawed Bill. #auspol 1/
Improvements incl removing the ability of religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity under the Sex Discrimination Act.
And ensuring the statement of belief clause doesn't remove existing discrimination protections. 2/
And ensuring the statement of belief clause doesn't remove existing discrimination protections. 2/
However, Labor's amendments do *not* protect LGBT teachers in religious schools under the SDA.
Instead, they will wait for the ALRC to report on this.
Even though this issue is *not* complex, with Tasmania protecting LGBT teachers for two decades, & the ACT since 2019. 3/
Instead, they will wait for the ALRC to report on this.
Even though this issue is *not* complex, with Tasmania protecting LGBT teachers for two decades, & the ACT since 2019. 3/
Laborās proposed amendments to the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill are a good start. But thereās far more that needs to be done to ensure LGBTQ+ students and teachers are protected. A thread: š§µ /1 #auspol
Issue #1: Most of our political leaders have now committed to protecting kids in religious schools from discrimination on the basis of sexuality and gender identity. Thatās great! The problem is, Laborās amendments only seek to amend the Sex Discrimination Act š /2
The Religious Discrimination Bill contains an alternative route to discriminate against LGBTQ+ kids under the guise of religion, in s 7. Schools might not be able to expel kids for being gay, but they could expel them for expressing supportive beliefs about being gay š³ļøāš /3
Disappointingly, this explainer does not discuss the loophole created by the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill itself, which could continue to see LGBT kids discriminated against 'under the guise of religious views', even if the SDA is fixed. #auslaw #auspol 1/ smh.com.au/politics/federā¦
This is because the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill allows religious schools to discriminate against students throughout their education.
This falls far short of the best practice approach of Qld, Tasmania, ACT and NT, which limit such discrimination to the point of enrolment. 2/
This falls far short of the best practice approach of Qld, Tasmania, ACT and NT, which limit such discrimination to the point of enrolment. 2/
As a result, a religious school could still punish, or expel, an LGBT student who refuses to publicly affirm 'homosexuality is intrinsically disordered', or 'god created man and women, so trans gender people don't exist.'
The outcome is the same: LGBT kids being mistreated. 3/
The outcome is the same: LGBT kids being mistreated. 3/
"āMy appeal to you is to come together and think about our team,ā Mr Morrison told the meeting."
Internal party unity is more important to him than protecting trans and gender diverse students from discrimination on the basis of who they are. #auspol 1/ smh.com.au/politics/federā¦
Internal party unity is more important to him than protecting trans and gender diverse students from discrimination on the basis of who they are. #auspol 1/ smh.com.au/politics/federā¦
Contrast:
Bridget Archer said she was āhorrifiedā that transgender children would not be protected under the proposed reforms and implored her parliamentary colleagues to think about the long term mental health effects of affected people. #auspol 2/
Bridget Archer said she was āhorrifiedā that transgender children would not be protected under the proposed reforms and implored her parliamentary colleagues to think about the long term mental health effects of affected people. #auspol 2/
And more:
"I canāt wrap my head around this and I fear that it may risk lives,ā she said. āIn 2022 I canāt believe weāre having this conversation. This bill is an overreach." #auspol 3/
"I canāt wrap my head around this and I fear that it may risk lives,ā she said. āIn 2022 I canāt believe weāre having this conversation. This bill is an overreach." #auspol 3/
*Extremely* disappointing that Liberal MP Angie Bell, a member of the LGBT community, has decided not to stand up for trans and gender diverse children and young people. #trans #auslaw #auspol 1/ 
Bell is also supporting amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act that allow religious schools to discriminate against lesbian, gay and bisexual students in 1,001 ways other than expulsion. #auspol 2/
And supporting a #ReligiousDiscriminationBill that provides an alternative avenue to discriminate against LGBT kids on the basis of beliefs *about* sexual orientation and gender identity, rather than those things directly (including even, presumably, expelling them). #auspol 3/
My thoughts are with trans and gender diverse kids and their families, abandoned by this thoughtless, and in my view, heartless, exclusion.
But thoughts are not enough.
Please take *action* today to tell MPs to reject the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill. 1/ theguardian.com/australia-newsā¦
But thoughts are not enough.
Please take *action* today to tell MPs to reject the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill. 1/ theguardian.com/australia-newsā¦
"Faith-based schools would not be able to expel gay students, but would retain the right to expel transgender students under draft amendments to a contentious #ReligiousDiscrimination Bill package moderate Liberals say they cannot support." #auspol 1/ smh.com.au/politics/federā¦
ā¬ļø I am struggling to find the (twitter-appropriate) words to express how I feel about a Govt that would target trans & gender diverse kids for abuse and mistreatment.
Discrimination law should protect the vulnerable, not expose them to discrimination because of why they are. 2/
Discrimination law should protect the vulnerable, not expose them to discrimination because of why they are. 2/
There is *nothing* radical about protecting students in religious schools against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation *and* gender identity.
Tas, Qld & NT have done so for decades. ACT for almost 3 yrs. Religious schools continue to exist in all 4 jurisdictions. 3/
Tas, Qld & NT have done so for decades. ACT for almost 3 yrs. Religious schools continue to exist in all 4 jurisdictions. 3/
The amendment discussed in this story - "ensuring it is not discriminatory for an employer to take reasonable management action in relation to employees" - does nothing to guarantee protections for the victims of discrimination. #auspol 1/ theaustralian.com.au/nation/politicā¦
In theory, this will allow employers to discipline employees who make discriminatory 'statements of belief' to others, without fearing that the employee will be able to turn around and claim the employer's actions amount to discrimination on the basis of religious belief. 2/
In practice, this still denies the protection of anti-discrimination law to the person on the receiving end of such comments (because the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill will still override all Commonwealth, state and territory anti-discrimination laws to protect these comments). 3/
The details of the final #ReligiousDiscriminationBill were released a week ago today.
While there has been plenty of discussion about some of the major problems it will cause, I want to focus today on 4 issues which have received comparatively less focus. #auslaw #auspol 1/
While there has been plenty of discussion about some of the major problems it will cause, I want to focus today on 4 issues which have received comparatively less focus. #auslaw #auspol 1/
1. It will protect at least some religiously-motivated racist comments.
This is because of how broadly the radical and unprecedented 'statement of belief' provisions have been drafted. 2/
This is because of how broadly the radical and unprecedented 'statement of belief' provisions have been drafted. 2/
Proposed section 12 overrides all other Cth, state & territory anti-discrimination laws.
Including specifically targeting section 17(1) of Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits comments that offend, humiliate, insult and ridicule, including on the basis of race. 3/
Including specifically targeting section 17(1) of Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits comments that offend, humiliate, insult and ridicule, including on the basis of race. 3/
Even if the so-called 'Folau clause' has been dropped, the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill will likely still be extraordinary and extreme, entrenching the rights of religious individuals and orgs to discriminate against others.
Let me explain why. #auspol 1/ theguardian.com/world/2021/novā¦
Let me explain why. #auspol 1/ theguardian.com/world/2021/novā¦
As I have explained previously on this site, the 'Folau clause', while awful in and of itself, was actually the least terrible of the 4 major problems of the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill.
Based on media reports, it seems the 2 worst aspects of the 2nd Exposure Draft remain. 2/
Based on media reports, it seems the 2 worst aspects of the 2nd Exposure Draft remain. 2/
This includes the 'statement of belief' provision (clause 42), which overrides all other Cth, state & territory anti-discrim laws (incl the Fair Work Act), protecting comments that 'offend, humiliate, intimidate, insult or ridicule' others where motivated by religious belief. 3/
I began writing my LGBTI rights blog 9 years ago today: alastairlawrie.net
It's fair to say I really didn't know what I was doing in the beginning.
But through perseverance, I think it's slowly improved, each year since then.
And I'm proud of this growing body of work. 1/
It's fair to say I really didn't know what I was doing in the beginning.
But through perseverance, I think it's slowly improved, each year since then.
And I'm proud of this growing body of work. 1/
To mark the anniversary, I thought I'd share 9 posts which are important to me, often for quite different reasons. 2/
The first post is about Mark Latham's anti-trans kids Bill, which in my view is the worst legislative attack on LGBTI rights in Australia this century.
I'm proud more than 10,000 people have read this, & hopefully better understand the threat it poses. 3/
alastairlawrie.net/2020/08/09/i-sā¦
I'm proud more than 10,000 people have read this, & hopefully better understand the threat it poses. 3/
alastairlawrie.net/2020/08/09/i-sā¦
[THREAD] The government received thousands of submissions on the second exposure draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill. Many experts and organisations have concerns about it. Don't just take our word for it, we'll be sharing some here.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA's submission on the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill here: ag.gov.au/Consultations/ā¦ ![]()
The Chamber of Commerce, and Industry WA, on the Statements of Belief clause" src="/images/1px.png" data-src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERq7Cx6UUAASEO_.jpg">
The Chamber of Commerce, and Industry WA, on the Statements of Belief clause" src="/images/1px.png" data-src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERq7Cx6UUAASEO_.jpg">
