GAY rights activists have vowed to mount a Supreme Court challenge against changes to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act that passed Parliament on Thursday night. The changes will allow religious schools to reject prospective students who do not share their faith, regardless of enrolment levels. Opponents had feared the bill may open an unintended floodgate for schools to discriminate on a range of grounds under the guise of religion. As a consequence, MLCs sought to tighten the bill by making it clear schools could not discriminate on any other grounds such as race, gender identity or sexual orientation. Tasmanian gay and lesbian rights group spokesman Rodney Croome welcomed the clarification. But Mr Croome said he was alarmed by another late change that allowed schools to consider the religion of parents, grandparents or guardians in testing a young person’s faith. He is worried schools will use the exemption as cover to discriminate against gay students or the children of gay parents. ‘‘Parliament’s decision to water down the Anti-Discrimination Act will now disadvantage even more families than originally proposed,’’ Mr Croome said. ‘‘I will now work with families who are disadvantaged by this amendment to mount a case to the Supreme Court to have the amendment declared inconsistent with the Tasmanian Constitution.’’ As the laws cleared the House of Assembly, Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said the changes were not radical. ‘‘The Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill will allow faith-based schools to give preference in their admissions to students who have religious beliefs, affiliations or activities consistent with those of the school,’’ Dr Goodwin said. ‘‘It will not allow discrimination on any other grounds.’’ Mr Croome said he would also seek meetings with religious school principals to ensure they understood their existing legal obligations to clamp down on prejudice and bullying. ‘‘I will encourage them to conduct professional development for their staff in the issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex teachers, students and parents,’’ he said.
GAY rights activists have vowed to mount a Supreme Court challenge against changes to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act that passed Parliament on Thursday night.
The changes will allow religious schools to reject prospective students who do not share their faith, regardless of enrolment levels.
Opponents had feared the bill may open an unintended floodgate for schools to discriminate on a range of grounds under the guise of religion.
As a consequence, MLCs sought to tighten the bill by making it clear schools could not discriminate on any other grounds such as race, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Tasmanian gay and lesbian rights group spokesman Rodney Croome welcomed the clarification.
Rodney Croome
But Mr Croome said he was alarmed by another late change that allowed schools to consider the religion of parents, grandparents or guardians in testing a young person’s faith.
He is worried schools will use the exemption as cover to discriminate against gay students or the children of gay parents.
‘‘Parliament’s decision to water down the Anti-Discrimination Act will now disadvantage even more families than originally proposed,’’ Mr Croome said.
‘‘I will now work with families who are disadvantaged by this amendment to mount a case to the Supreme Court to have the amendment declared inconsistent with the Tasmanian Constitution.’’
As the laws cleared the House of Assembly, Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said the changes were not radical.
‘‘The Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill will allow faith-based schools to give preference in their admissions to students who have religious beliefs, affiliations or activities consistent with those of the school,’’ Dr Goodwin said.
‘‘It will not allow discrimination on any other grounds.’’
Mr Croome said he would also seek meetings with religious school principals to ensure they understood their existing legal obligations to clamp down on prejudice and bullying.
‘‘I will encourage them to conduct professional development for their staff in the issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex teachers, students and parents,’’ he said.
