16th Oct 2018, 4:15 PM – Senate Motions - Anti-Discrimination Laws - Protect students and staff at independent schools

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Justice Party Senator Derryn Hinch (Vic), which means the motion failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges:

(i) the recent partial release of the 'Ruddock Report' into religious freedoms in Australia, and

(ii) that, in response, both the government and the opposition have now committed to repealing sections of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, which allow independent schools to sack teachers and expel children on the basis of their sexual orientation; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

(i) work with the states and territories to achieve consistency in anti-discrimination laws,

(ii) withhold federal funding to any schools which engage in discrimination against teachers or students on the basis of sexual orientation, and

(iii) deny charity tax concessions to any organisation or commission responsible for a school that engages in discrimination.