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representatives vote 2022-02-09#2

Edited by mackay staff

on 2022-02-18 10:58:24

Title

  • Bills — Religious Discrimination Bill 2021, Religious Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021, Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2021; Second Reading
  • Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 - Second Reading - Agree with bill's main idea

Description

  • <p class="speaker">Andrew Wallace</p>
  • <p>The question is that this bill be now read a second time.</p>
  • <p></p>
  • The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2022-02-09.140.1) to agree with the main idea of the bill, which means they can now discuss it in more detail. In parliamentary jargon, the majority voted to read the bill for a [second time](https://www.peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/).
  • There was one rebellion, with Bass MP [Bridget Archer](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/bass/bridget_archer) (Liberal) crossing the floor to vote 'No' against the rest of her party, who voted 'Yes.'
  • ### What does the bill do?
  • According to the [bill homepage](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6821), the bill was introduced with the [Religious Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6819) and [Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2021](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6820) in order to:
  • * *prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s religious belief or activity in a range of areas of public life, including in relation to employment, education, access to premises and the provision of goods, services and accommodation;*
  • * *establish general and specific exceptions from the prohibition of religious discrimination;*
  • * *provide that certain statements of belief do not constitute discrimination for the purposes of certain specified Commonwealth, state or territory anti-discrimination laws;*
  • * *create offences in relation to victimisation and discriminatory advertisements;*
  • * *establish the office of the Religious Discrimination Commissioner;*
  • * *confer certain functions on the Australian Human Rights Commission; and*
  • * *provide for miscellaneous matters including delegation of powers or functions, protection from civil actions and a review of the operation of the Act.*
  • SBS News has provided [a good summary](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/religious-discrimination-bill-passes-lower-house-as-five-liberal-mps-cross-the-floor/1418953a-e34d-4606-bb7e-89413596ac40) of the more controversial parts of the bill, including an explanation for each rebellion that occurred during the long debate. According to [this summary](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/religious-discrimination-bill-passes-lower-house-as-five-liberal-mps-cross-the-floor/1418953a-e34d-4606-bb7e-89413596ac40), the key areas for concern were:
  • * the parts of the bill that allowed religious schools to discriminate on the basis of sexuality and gender identity;
  • * the "statement of belief" that seems to protect people expressing religious beliefs even if they're offensive and therefore seem to override existing anti-discrimination protections; and
  • * the fact that the bill does not outlaw vilification of people of faith.