A Marshall government bill to remove protections for faith-based schools and other institutions has shocked South Australian Christians, the Australian Christian Lobby said today.
“The Ruddock review said the SA government should go the opposite direction,” ACL state director Christopher Brohier said. “Specifically in recommendation 16:
New South Wales and South Australia should amend their anti-discrimination laws to render it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of a person’s ‘religious belief or activity’ including on the basis that a person does not hold any religious belief. In doing so, consideration should be given to providing for the appropriate exceptions and exemptions, including for religious bodies, religious schools and charities.
“Instead, the Marshall government is stripping away more religious freedoms,” Mr Brohier continued. “The Equal Opportunity (Religious Bodies) Amendment Bill 2020 will stop faith-based schools providing education in line with their scriptural teachings on gender and sexuality.”
“For decades, independent schools have fought very hard to preserve their independence from government – and for the few protections that they do have. It is highly disappointing that a Liberal government is taking away those protections.
“ACL urges parliamentarians, faith-based schools and other bodies – and all Christians – to voice their objection to this Liberal attack on their children’s education and personal beliefs.”
ENDS
