Dear Banjo,

The parameters set by the Australian Law Reform
Commission ( ALRC), were that religious schools
should be able to operate in accordance with their
beliefs, but must not discriminate against staff
or students on the basis of sexuality or gender
identity.

At present religious schools can practice such
discrimination. The recommendation of the ALRC
needs to be implemented. Your point about Australia
being a secular country is valid.

Article 18 of the ICCPR: (International Covenant Of Civil Public Rights):

“The Government may not impose restrictions on the right to hold positions based on religious or other belief, nor may it impose religious or other beliefs. The Government may also be obliged to take positive steps, where necessary and appropriate to protect this right, where failure to do so may result in offensive attacks on religious beliefs.”

Australia signed up to this Covenant in 1972, but it was never put into domestic law. “Coincidentally”,
the extreme Left Whitlam government was in power then.

Now, we have even a more extreme (ultra) Left government trying to knock Christianity (that’s its real target, not other religions) in the head.

The Opposition was probably asleep at the wheel then, as it is now.

Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. We have avoided the really nasty stuff up to now in Australia. But what protection there was looks like coming to an end under the very nasty Albanese regime, who's most egregious overt act against Christianity was its recent refusal to overrule the ACT government’s take over of the Calvary Catholic hospital because it wouldn't perform abortions. The federal government has that power over a Territory.

There are many reasons why Albanese's popularity has plummeted during his regime from 60% to 37% now. Whether or not his attack on Christianity in favour of perverts and weirdos is one of the factors is unknown - probably not, given the sheep-like Australian voters, all but a third of whom now say they reject Christianity.

Let's see how they like it when the basis of their society is gone, and imported Islam takes over from secular Australia and it's useless politicians of all brands.

Religious educational institutions account for over 90%
of the private schools in Australia and approximately 30%
of non-private schools. That is a sizeable portion of the
education system that would be frequented by LGBTQ students
and teachers.

These institutions are in prime positions to educate their
communities on fairness and equality and should actively work
against using a narrow perception of faith to demean.

Anybody denying that Albanese is out to get Judeo-Christianity in particular has only to heed the obvious fact of the lack of action against Islamic-hate speakers (there are already laws for that), and the lack of action against Muslims shouting “gas the Jews”.

Defender of Christianity, Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, rightly says that Christianity itself is being removed "slice by slice".

No one is forced to attend a private school. No one is forced to attend an institution that doesn't support their particular philosophy.

No one is forced to work at a private school. No one is forced to work at an institution that doesn't support their particular lifestyle.

This is especially true as regards teachers. The public system is crying out for teachers. Anyone working in a private school that had views they found problematic could easily find a job in the public system. They don't for reasons that are rather obvious.

"Discrimination is endemic in religious schools and
organisations around Australia, a ground-breaking report
by Equality Australia has found."

We're told that - "Australia is out of step with
international law and practice and LGBTQ students are
more likely to attend an independent school that
discriminates against them than supports them."

We're told that - "Reform is needed at a Commonwealth level
and in all states and territories." This is the first
report that attempts to fully quantify the impact and scale
of the problem.

We're told that - "One in 3 students and 2 in 5 staff are
enrolled or employed in private schools, most of which are
religiously affiliated. More than 70,000 students and
10,000 staff in non-government schools are estimated to be
LGBTQ according to the report." Which includes personal
accounts of discrimination.

"These organisations rely on billions of dollars of public
funding but are not required to comply with the same laws when
it comes to employment, education, and service delivery as other
organisations."

" The law in Australia is out of step with 21st century community
expectations and it urgently needs to change. Everyone deserves
the same legal protections from discrimination."

"The report also found that Catholic school authorities maintain
a damaging and oppressive culture of silence, with 9 out of 10
of those reviewed (educating 90% of all students in Australian
Catholic schools) publishing so little information about LGBTQ
and inclusion that perspective parents, students or employees
can't tell whether they will be welcomed or face discrimination."

"This is also the case for 1 in 3 independent schools."

There's more at the following:

http://equalityaustralia.org.au/discrimination-endemic-in-religious-schools-around-australia-new-report-finds/#