TASMANIA'S upper house appears certain to give in-principle support to controversial Anti-Discrimination Act changes when debate resumes today. The amendments will make it easier for faith-based schools to reject prospective students based on their religion. The changes have attracted widespread attention and pitted school and church groups against lawyers, civil libertarians and the state's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. The proposal would allow religious schools to block enrolments of children who do not share their faith regardless of subscription levels. Opponents, including gay rights activists, fear reference to a child sharing the "tenets, beliefs, teachings, principles or practices" of a religion may have significant unintended consequences. There are also concerns about how a young child's religious belief would be tested, and whether schools may be able to discriminate for other reasons under the guise of religious difference. It is understood that further amendments drafted seek to appease some of these concerns. However, Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney said passing the bill in any form would be a retrograde step. "There's no need, there's no outcry, there's no evidence," he said. Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest said she had a fundamental concern with enshrining the right to discriminate, and called for a vote to stop debate and send the bill to an inquiry. But her move was voted down by eight votes to six, and the bill now looks likely to pass its first major hurdle by at least that same margin. Elwick independent MLC Adriana Taylor was among the majority to speak in favour of the bill. "I do think the legislation needs to be as clearly worded as possible so that this exemption discriminates solely on the basis of religion and on no other grounds," Ms Taylor said. Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said the amendment could be made less hazardous and welcomed efforts to do so. "But at the end of the day it will still allow discrimination against ordinary Tasmanian families and vulnerable Tasmanian children and that is completely unacceptable," Mr Croome said.
TASMANIA'S upper house appears certain to give in-principle support to controversial Anti-Discrimination Act changes when debate resumes today.
The amendments will make it easier for faith-based schools to reject prospective students based on their religion.
The changes have attracted widespread attention and pitted school and church groups against lawyers, civil libertarians and the state's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner.
The proposal would allow religious schools to block enrolments of children who do not share their faith regardless of subscription levels.
Opponents, including gay rights activists, fear reference to a child sharing the "tenets, beliefs, teachings, principles or practices" of a religion may have significant unintended consequences.
There are also concerns about how a young child's religious belief would be tested, and whether schools may be able to discriminate for other reasons under the guise of religious difference.
It is understood that further amendments drafted seek to appease some of these concerns.
However, Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney said passing the bill in any form would be a retrograde step.
"There's no need, there's no outcry, there's no evidence," he said.
Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest said she had a fundamental concern with enshrining the right to discriminate, and called for a vote to stop debate and send the bill to an inquiry.
But her move was voted down by eight votes to six, and the bill now looks likely to pass its first major hurdle by at least that same margin.
Elwick independent MLC Adriana Taylor was among the majority to speak in favour of the bill.
"I do think the legislation needs to be as clearly worded as possible so that this exemption discriminates solely on the basis of religion and on no other grounds," Ms Taylor said.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said the amendment could be made less hazardous and welcomed efforts to do so.
"But at the end of the day it will still allow discrimination against ordinary Tasmanian families and vulnerable Tasmanian children and that is completely unacceptable," Mr Croome said.
