LEGISLATION allowing schools to discriminate on religious grounds has been described as a "bigots charter" by a gay rights activist, but the state government says it will provide certainty. An amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Act tabled in Parliament yesterday would allow religious-based schools to give preferential treatment during the admission process to students who share the religious beliefs of the school. Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said the changes would not permit discrimination based on other attributes such as sexual orientation and relationship status. But Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said he feared gay or transgender students and parents could be refused enrolments in schools. "My concern is that this blanket exemption will be used as cover by principals and school authorities to discriminate against students and parents on other grounds, such sexual orientation, gender identity, and relationship status," Mr Croome said. "I see this amendment to the Anti Discrimination Act as a bigots charter that will allow all manner of prejudice, bigotry and discrimination to fester and be legitimised," he said. Archbishop Julian Porteous said he supported the government's decision to amend the act, which "will allow religious schools in Tasmania the same freedoms granted in the other states and territories". Dr Goodwin said it would provide consistency and certainty to Tasmania's faith-based schools. "Religious schools are already able to apply for an exemption to the act but this can be a cumbersome and uncertain process as it is difficult for schools to predict in advance whether a year group may be oversubscribed with students seeking admission," Dr Goodwin said. "The amendments being introduced by the government will reduce red tape and administrative burden associated with the current exemption process," she said. Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim said if religious schools wanted to use the exemption they should "hand back every single dollar of government funding they receive". "We've seen identical provisions used as cover to discriminate on non-religious grounds on the mainland, and we don't want see it happening in Tasmania," he said. Labor justice spokeswoman Lara Giddings said the amendment would take the state backwards.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome
LEGISLATION allowing schools to discriminate on religious grounds has been described as a "bigots charter" by a gay rights activist, but the state government says it will provide certainty.
An amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Act tabled in Parliament yesterday would allow religious-based schools to give preferential treatment during the admission process to students who share the religious beliefs of the school.
Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said the changes would not permit discrimination based on other attributes such as sexual orientation and relationship status.
But Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said he feared gay or transgender students and parents could be refused enrolments in schools.
"My concern is that this blanket exemption will be used as cover by principals and school authorities to discriminate against students and parents on other grounds, such sexual orientation, gender identity, and relationship status," Mr Croome said.
"I see this amendment to the Anti Discrimination Act as a bigots charter that will allow all manner of prejudice, bigotry and discrimination to fester and be legitimised," he said.
Archbishop Julian Porteous said he supported the government's decision to amend the act, which "will allow religious schools in Tasmania the same freedoms granted in the other states and territories".
Dr Goodwin said it would provide consistency and certainty to Tasmania's faith-based schools.
"Religious schools are already able to apply for an exemption to the act but this can be a cumbersome and uncertain process as it is difficult for schools to predict in advance whether a year group may be oversubscribed with students seeking admission," Dr Goodwin said.
"The amendments being introduced by the government will reduce red tape and administrative burden associated with the current exemption process," she said.
Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim said if religious schools wanted to use the exemption they should "hand back every single dollar of government funding they receive".
"We've seen identical provisions used as cover to discriminate on non-religious grounds on the mainland, and we don't want see it happening in Tasmania," he said.
Labor justice spokeswoman Lara Giddings said the amendment would take the state backwards.
