New Opportunity to Defend Christian Institutions 

The federal Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus, has asked the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to review religious exemptions for schools in federal anti-discrimination law, in the first formal step towards new religious discrimination laws.

The ALRC has responded with Terms of Reference which are too narrow. They fail to make provision for schools and faith-based communities to operate according to their core set of values, or ethos – that which sets the tone for the community.

Faith-based organisations should be allowed to hire staff who share their ethos, just as political parties do. The Terms of Reference only include schools being able to initially employ staff “of the same religion.”

The ALRC has released its public survey which forms part of the review.

Please complete the survey by 24 February.