A resounding defeat has befallen the government’s proposed changes to the state’s anti-discrimination laws, with a 7-4 vote in the Legislative Council putting the final nail in the coffin.
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The Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill sought to offer a new exemption under Section 55 of the Anti-Discrimination Act.
The act prohibits people from making offensive, humiliating, intimidating or insulting statements about a person or group of people based on attributes including race, sexuality and gender.
But the legislation also offers an exemption for acts done “in good faith” for academic, artistic, scientific or research purposes.
The Tasmanian government wanted statements made in good faith for religious purposes to be added to that list.
The MLCs that voted in support of the bill were:
- Montgomery Liberal MLC Leonie Hiscutt;
- Independent Huon MLC Robert Armstrong;
- Independent Windermere MLC Ivan Dean; and
- Independent Apsley MLC Tania Rattray.
The MLCs that voted against the bill were:
- Elwick Labor MLC Josh Willie;
- Rumney Labor MLC Sarah Lovell;
- Independent Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch;
- Independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest;
- Independent Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney;
- Independent Hobart MLC Rob Valentine; and
- Independent Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage.
Mr Dean said there was “no solid evidence” to suggest that religious people or groups should not have the same exemptions as artists and academics.
Ms Lovell, meanwhile, said she could not support a bill that “made it easier to discriminate against others”.
She said it would foster division instead of compassion.
“I am opposed to this bill in the strongest possible terms,” Ms Lovell said.
Acting Attorney-General Matthew Groom blamed Labor for the failure of the bill, but said the government would announce a policy to address the “issue” ahead of the next state election.
Marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome welcomed the bill’s demise.
“LGBTI Tasmanians will breathe a sigh of relief that this retrograde push to weaken our anti-hate laws has been voted down,” Mr Croome said.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the result was “a victory for a just, fair, kind Tasmania” and that current laws provided “strong protection”.
Both Mr Croome and Ms O’Connor said the proposed changes would have made the lead-up to the November 25 postal plebiscite on same-sex marriage much uglier in Tasmania.